BLC outlines his pioneer experience in building women’s capacities

L’Orient Le Jour and Al Mustaqbal newspapers interviewed the chair and general director of BLC Bank, Maurice Se7hnawi on his pioneering role in supporting the development and empowerment of women, as well as his contribution to the Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs). It is to be noted that Se7hnawi was the only MENA figure to be invited to the annual UN Women’s Empowerment Principles Forum held in New York last March. On this subject, Se7hnawi clarified that the invitation came after a survey by the New Economy magazine which focused on select institutions that largely contributed to women’s working endeavors and by which BLC was chosen among the top ten.

Furthermore, Se7hnanwi told Al Mustaqbal that BLC delved the women’s world alone before being acknowledged by the United Nations, pointing that since 2012, the bank has pledged to support the building of women’s capacities in Lebanon and the Arab region through the elaboration of practical solutions to their daily challenges. Based on findings of studies carried out by the newspaper in 2015, the BLC seems to have kept its promises with the launch of ‘We Initiative’ that realized an increase by 69% of loans to women entrepreneurs over a period of three years. Se7hnawi also confirmed his bank’s 2020 target goal to reach gender parity at the level of executive management.

 

In his interview with L’Orient Le Jour, the BLC chair explained that the focus on SMEs falls within the bank’s commitment to support this vital foundation for socio-economic development, stating that SMEs represent 90% of companies currently operating in the country, and have a strong advantage of attracting innovative and skilled labor force. (Al Mustaqbal, L’Orient Le Jour, September 16 & 17, 2015)L’Orient Le Jour and Al Mustaqbal newspapers interviewed the chair and general director of BLC Bank, Maurice Sehnaoui on his pioneering role in supporting the development and empowerment of women, as well as his contribution to the Small and Medium enterprises, SMEs. Sehnaoui to be noted, is the only MENA figure to be invited to the annual UN Women’s Empowerment Principles Forum held in New York last March. On this subject, Sehnaoui clarified that the invitation was based on a survey by the New Economy magazine to select institutions that largely contributed to women’s working endeavors and by which BLC was chosen among the top ten. 

Sehnanoui told Al Mustaqbal that  BLC delved  the women’s world alone before being acknowledged by the United Nations, pointing that since 2012, the bank has pledged to support the building of women’s capacities in Lebanon and the Arab region through creating solutions to their daily challenges. Based on findings of studies carried out by the newspaper in 2015, the BLC has kept its promises with the launch of ‘We Initiative’ that realized an increase by 69% of loans to women entrepreneurs over a period of three years. Sehnaoui confirmed his bank’s 2020 target goal to reach gender parity  on the level of executive management.

In his interview with L’Orient Le Jour, the BLC chair explained that his focus on SMEs falls within his commitment to support the pillars that lay the foundation for socio-economic development, stating that these enterprises represent 90% of the companies currently operating in the country and pose a capacity to attract innovative and skilled labor force. (Al Mustaqbal, L’Orient Le Jour, September 16 & 17, 2015)