PESHAWAR: Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is all set for a summit to bring in stakeholders on a platform to facilitate and encourage women in businesses in the province.

Shamama Arbab, the president of WCCI, said that purpose of the summit entitled “The WIBSUM 2017” was to link businesswomen with national and international companies, governmental and non-governmental organisations that were working for economic empowerment of women but did not get a chance to be on one platform to share their success stories and build more collaboration.

The two-day summit, to be held on May 11 and May 12, is going to bring in corporate sector that practices Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The summit would not only focus on success stories and sharing of ideas but would also connect businessmen and women to further develop business linkages and collaboration for economic empowerment of women in the province.

WCCI chief says all stakeholders to be brought on one platform

“I would especially like to invite the companies that are practicing CSR as no one needs as much support as businesswomen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Ms Arabab. She urged big companies to come to help and support businesswomen of a province hit hard by militancy and terrorism for decades.

“The summit itself is a message that peace and business opportunities are available in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but only support and little push is needed,” she said.

The women, who run successful businesses in Iran, Nepal, Afghanistan and Srilanka, would be also attending the summit. Some 300 participants, mostly businesswomen, would be attending the summit.

All the stakeholders, who are working for economic empowerment of women, would be brought to one platform. The summit is not only being held to appreciate their efforts but also inspire others to learn and practice the techniques being used by those, who are successful businesswomen or men.

The first day would be more focused on appreciation and sharing of success stories and on second the participants would be given a chance to connect and chat with those inspirational businesswomen and men, whom they think would be helpful in improving their business skills.

The WCCI would be not only facilitating them for the two days but also help to arrange further meetings for follow up if needed. WCCI is giving a platform to women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to showcase their business skills and talent and develop linkages to further improve their business or avail a business opportunity.

“A Peshawar declaration would be the outcome of the summit that would set the policy-guidelines and steps for women in business in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Ms Arbab.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2017