KARACHI, Aug 22: The consul-general of Sri Lanka to Karachi, Manel Desilva, has urged the women entrepreneurs to focus on uplifting the rural women in developing heritage products which will help in creating the country’s soft image in the world.

She was speaking as chief guest at the meeting of the Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s sub-committee on women entrepreneurs at the Aiwan-i-Tijarat Auditorium, here on Monday.

Ms Desilva urged the urban businesswomen to join hands with their counterparts in the rural areas for addressing social issues and problems related to developing business opportunities.

She mentioned that the women in Karachi were well educated and actively playing their role in bringing innovative business ideas.

Ms Desilva assured the women committee of her assistance and moral support for the promotion of trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

“The Sri Lankan consulate would provide assistance in organizing the meeting and arrangements in Sri Lanka for the ladies interested in doing business with companies there,” she added.

The consul-general congratulated the KCCI office-bearers for setting up the first ever and much needed women committee at the chamber.

Ms Desilva also announced that Sri Lanka would be organizing a single-country exhibition in Karachi at the Expo Centre, Karachi to be held from Jan 16-19 and added that over 50 exhibitors would display their valued products on the occasion.

Earlier, welcoming the consul-general, KCCI President Khalid Firoz said the chamber would complete the upgrading of its website in a couple of days and all information related to trade and industry would be available on the web.

Talking about KCCI women sub-committee, the KCCI chief said that women should actively take part in all activities of the chamber and contribute their due role in the national economy.

The chairman of the committee and senior vice-president of the KCCI, Mian Abrar Ahmed, said that the objective of this committee was to provide a platform to women entrepreneurs where their role and contribution in various sectors of the economy could be strengthened.

The chairman said that 750 businesses companies were listed with the chamber as women entrepreneurs.

“We are trying to categorize them by separating those who are managed by women and those who are managed by men”, he said.

He announced that foreign diplomats from various countries would be invited to address the members of the committee on monthly basis.

Abdul Maid Hajji Mohammad, Aamir Abdullah Zaki and Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra were also present.—PPI