TAXILA: The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in collaboration with the Attock Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AWCCI) organised a seminar on participation of women entrepreneurs in e-commerce and trade fairs.

The seminar on ‘E-commerce and trade fair participation for women entrepreneurs’ was held at the district council hall in Attock.

The event brought together women entrepreneurs from various business sectors, development partners and governmental representatives to discuss challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in rural and urban areas.

The speakers on the occasion said development of an exclusive women entrepreneurship policy and action plan would be game changers in economic development of Pakistan.

Officials of TDAP said that with the support of Attock Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, traditional handicrafts, furs, jewellery, food items, including groundnuts and olives, can be introduced at international trade fairs which would not only benefit the local community but would also fetch demand from international buyers.

Dubai-based banker Rehman Gul Khattak, well-known businessman Sheikh Rehan Mehmood, senior Vice President AWCCI Saima Jabin, Vice President Shamaila Sarfaraz, Executive Committee members Sameran Naseer, Rizwana Nadeem, Shakeela Parveen, Henna Jabin, Lubni Mansab, General Secretary Mohammad Arsalan, former presidents Iram Khan, Najea Bibi, PPP women wing district president HajraTabbasum and more than 60 entrepreneurs from the district besides a large number of female students were present.

Assistant director services TDAP Adil Mukhtar deliberated upon market and product research, product development, business modelling, company tax registration, marketing tools, export-related procedures, logistics and payment processes.

He also spoke about the incentives being provided by the authority to empower women to join trade.

Dr Arfa Shahid, assistant director women entrepreneurs’ division TDAP, stated that over the years TDAP had organised more than 60 women specific local exhibitions, sent many women entrepreneurs to international exhibitions and sponsored solo women exhibitions internationally and also held multiple seminars and conferences.

President of AWCCI Saba William said the chamber was working to promote women entrepreneurship to drive economic growth, channelise home-based and micro-businesses to venture at commercial level and explore their roots in international markets.

Saarc Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson Henna Mansab Khan said readymade garments, wooden furniture, salt, gems and jewellery and handicrafts were linked with women businesses which needed to be channelised to give a quantum jump to exports as non-traditional items direly needed in traditional and non-traditional markets.

She stressed the need to develop a database of women entrepreneurs and identify areas in which they were mostly concentrated.

She urged the need to provide guidance to women chambers on improving their members’ knowledge, vision, access to resources besides advising women entrepreneurs to join relevant trade associations to stay in touch with latest trends and opportunities.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2024