ISLAMABAD: The fourth Islamabad Expo-2015 is going to start today, Saturday, here in the federal capital with an objective to encourage and promote women entrepreneurs, being organized by Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI).
More than 150 stalls have been allocated for the exhibitors to display garments, handicrafts, homes décor, Non-governmental Organizations’ stuff, Food Street, fun area for kids and much more. The two-days long Islamabad Expo will end on April 19.
Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry has been formed exclusively for the aid and assistance of Women Entrepreneurs and Professional Women and it acts as forum providing an atmosphere catering particularly to the needs and requirements of Women Entrepreneurs and helping them in promoting their business in local and international markets. IWCCI is working for the Women Empowerment for the last 12 years. IWCCI became a formally recognized Women’s Chamber of Commerce in July 2009 by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan.
“We plan an event every year, IWCCI started a mega event in the twin cities with the name of Islamabad EXPO in 2011 and has organized three successful events so far” Executive Director Expo, Naima Ansari told this scribe here on Thursday.
She observed that aim of the event is the promotion of home based products of small entrepreneurs specially womenfolk, who failed to get good price of their products in the local markets due to some social constraints. We invite women across the country to come and display their art work at the expo against minimal charges, she added.
Moreover, IWCCI also provides subsidy to Women Entrepreneurs on the sale of their goods and products to encourage them. Besides, business activity, a two day business conference will also be organized on the sidelines of Islamabad Expo where the participants will be educated and trained about the latest marketing techniques and technologies.
Furthermore, there will be panel discussions of the women participants with the experts at the business conference forum regarding tackling the challenges in the industrial and business fields. She informed that Chairman Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Mian Adrees will be guest of honor at the closing ceremony.
Besides the exhibitors, businessmen, large number of diplomats, bureaucrats, political figures and prominent people from other walks of life have also ensured their active participation in the event which would encourage the exhibitors by increasing sale of their products.
She said that our goal was the economic empowerment of women through Women’s Entrepreneurial activities and our mission to create a peaceful, prosperous and stable nation and free our country from poverty. We were determined to elevate the status of women by involving them fully in entrepreneurial activities, she added.
While referring to key objectives of Islamabad Expo and Business Conference, she said that objective was to gather women entrepreneurs at a single platform, to encourage women entrepreneur to enroll as members of women chambers. Moreover, the purpose of the expose was to to provide a forum for local and international women entrepreneurs where they can discuss and resolve important issues related to their businesses, to create a network linking women entrepreneurs of Pakistan and abroad.
