(Srilankamirror) - Saudi Arabia is planning to build a new city exclusively for women as it bids to combine strict Sharia law and career minded females, pursuing work.
Saudi Industrial Property Authority, Modon, has been asked to develop the city in the Eastern city of Hafuf.
The plan coincides with the government’s ambitions to get women to play a more active part in the development of the country. Among the stated objectives are to create jobs, particularly for younger women.
The controversial city will have women-run firms and production lines for women. It's expected to lure 500 million riyals (AU$125m) in investments and generate about 5000 jobs in the textiles, pharmaceuticals and food processing industries.
‘I’m sure that women can demonstrate their efficiency in many aspects and clarify the industries that best suits their interests, their nature and their ability’, Modon’s deputy director-general, Saleh Al-Rasheed, told Saudi daily newspaper al-Eqtisadi
‘We have plans to establish a number of women-only industries in various parts of the kingdom’.
As part of a mass overhaul of its workforce and its bid to get women into work the state is also attempting to replace foreign salespeople with Saudi women.
This summer, women started replacing staff in cosmetics and perfume shops, only half a year after they replaced male sales staff in lingerie stores.
Last September, King Abdullah announced that women will be able to vote and run in the 2015 local elections but Saudi Arabia is still the only country in the world that prohibits women from driving.
(Sources: Daily Mail, Nation, news.com.au)
