MARDAN: The government should adopt business-friendly policies for the small entrepreneurs, said the newly-elected president of Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mardan, Nazia Shah, here on Wednesday.

She said that the chamber would empower women by improving their skills and connecting them with the market.

Addressing the cabinet of the chamber, she said that WCCIM would provide exposure to women entrepreneurs. She said that WCCIM would encourage skilled women to market their products.

Ms Shah said the WCCIM would help women to increase their income by improving their skills. She urged the women artisans to come forward and avail the opportunities being offered by the government.

“The objective of the WCCIM is to connect, support and empower women to bring prosperity,” she said. She added that State Bank of Pakistan, First Women Bank and other institutions supported women entrepreneurs to start their businesses.

Ms Shah said that they would seek support of tribal elders to encourage women from former Fata to set up their businesses. She said that the chamber trained many women in cooking, baking, sewing and online businesses.

She said that the chamber was planning to arrange seminar in women colleges and universities. She added that currently WCCIM had 130 members.

Speaking on the occasion, WCCIM vice president Shazia Sardar said that the chamber would provide one-window facility to potential women entrepreneurs. “For established businesswomen, the chamber would provide a forum for debate and discussion and opportunity to interact with local and international counterparts,” she added.

She said although women were enthusiastic about every sector of life, they could not move without the support of male family members. She said that WCCIM had a plan to encourage women and support them to utilise their abilities.

Other women entrepreneurs also spoke on the occasion and stressed the need for concerted efforts to encourage women to play their role in strengthening economy of the country.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2020