El Khider Ali Musa Bücher

This research looks into some of the personal characteristics of 32 Saudi businesswomen based in Riyadh and Kharj. The research also investigates the challenges they faced when they started up their business, the social and cultural challenges and the problems of access to capital they had to cope with. All in all, the study has revealed a nucleus of Saudi businesswomen who are self-confident and prepared to take business risks much the same as their male counterparts. It is beyond doubt that these businesswomen still face gender-specific challenges posed by the government’s regulations on business start-ups. Symbolic government restrictions on travel abroad are still there in line with Sharia principles. But government ban on driving is now a thing of the past and more Saudi women are taking to the streets. In view of the promotion policies of the government, women pressure groups and activists, the number and the scope of economic activities of businesswomen is now growing rapidly. Family support and society’s positive attitudes to women going into business have been a great asset in all this. With government emphasis on future role of women in economic and social development of the country in line with Vision 2030, Saudi businesswomen will certainly face the few remaining challenges in future.

This research focuses on three issues: the personal characteristics and motivations of the female entrepreneurs of Sudan, how conducive is the business environment for the female entrepreneurs of Sudan in terms of availability of finance and supporting infrastructural services and the major constraints imposed by the society’s attitudes and government regulations on business start-up, taxes and labour that may still impede female entrepreneurs of Sudan. The study used survey methodology and the questionnaire research method to collect data from 142 female businesses of different sizes, in different geographical locations and in different industries. Businesswomen have immense problems accessing finance and many aspects of infrastructural services and government regulations on business start-up and taxes that are not business-friendly either. Unexpectedly, the research findings indicate society’s positive attitudes to businesswomen. The study has made some recommendations including making microfinance initiative easily accessible, improving infrastructure, streamlining government regulations on starting-up business and licensing, introducing tax reforms and incentives, organizing businesswomen in the informal sector and enhancing businesswomen organizations’ relations with universities.

Afrika gilt es in diesem Sinne noch immer zu entdecken. Über die Privatisierungen in Afrika ist auf der Nordhalbkugel kaum etwas bekannt, ausser dass die internationalen und nationalen Geldgeber sie häufig als Konditionen für Kredite verlangen. Die vorliegende Arbeit füllt insofern eine Forschungslücke. Sie vergleicht die Privatisierungsprozesse in Sudan und Eritrea. Entwicklung, Organisation und finanzielle Ergebnisse, Privatisierungspolitik und -massnahmen, Widerstände und Konsequenzen für die öffentlichen Unternehmen wie die Staatshaushalte werden dabei thematisiert. Die Arbeit bleibt aber nicht auf der Ebene der Analyse stehen, sondern macht auch Vorschläge für die Entwicklung von Prozessen, die der Privatisierung förderlich sind wie für weitere Forschung.