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LAHORE, Jun 11 (APP):Faisalabad Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FWCCI) will establish a Women Export Display Centre in collaboration with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) at Faisalabad to facilitate ‘Access to Market’ for women products. These products particularly handmade articles have very well in demand in traditional and non-traditional markets abroad.
FWCCI President and Chairperson of FPCCI Standing Committee on Think Tank, Mrs. Rubina Amjad stated this while addressing participants in a symposium on ‘Digital Transformation of Women Businesses in Pakistan’, organized by Think Tank Committee in collaboration with FPCCI here on Tuesday.
She said that Pakistan export volume can go further high if we are able to facilitate and fetch best price for women particularly hand made products in international markets.
She emphasized that women dong business or startups, must be facilitated and equipped with the international scenario of digital transformation that offers a pathway to overcome traditional barriers and achieve sustainable growth. By adopting digital tools and strategies, women entrepreneurs should enhance their competitiveness and market base in more than 200 countries, she added. She said that ‘Access to Market’ is the most important step for attention of policy
makers, and government and policy makers should take it in letter and spirit. By supporting women entrepreneurs on this front is her missionary zeal. “We have worked day and night in collaboration with FPCCI and in consonance with State Bank, SMEDA and others, to bring under one roof, the experts from E-Commerce digital platforms, IT companies, Banking Industry, Cellular companies and Non-Banking organizations to promote digitalization, freelancing
accounts, digital marketing zero interest loans and web based development.”
She said, “At FWCCI, we have already established first ever ‘Business Incubation
Centre which is now upgraded to ‘Women Resource Centre’ in collaboration with Industries Department, Government of Punjab. Our women entrepreneurs can take benefit of the enriched training programs and business development opportunities organized time to time. We are striving for establishment of exclusive women entrepreneurs block and women skill
development centre at M-3 Allama Iqbal industrial estate, Faisalabad.”
Qurrat ul Ain, Vice President FPCCI, appreciated role of FPCCI Chairperson Think Tank Committee/President FWCCI for organizing the most important Symposium on ‘Digital transformation of Women Businesses in Pakistan’ and congratulated her for this milestone.
She said that empowering women entrepreneurs both in Access to Finance and
Access to market is the dire need and FPCCI and Think Tank Committee/FWCCI will work
together in this respect. She said that women products must receive facilitation for market
access to domestic and international destinations. She said that women entrepreneurs must be supported for delegation visits as well as participation in international trade fairs on subsidized rates by the government.
She emphasized on the ‘Industry-Academia Linkage’ as prime importance and educated
female graduates must opt for business as career as job providers instead of job seekers.
She quoted examples of various women entrepreneurs as successful business women
today. She assured full cooperation from FPCCI for future ventures of Think Tank
Committee and FWCCI.
Mrs. Quratulain Bilal, Deputy Chief Manager, Financial Inclusion Division, State Bank of
Pakistan BSC Faisalabad informed of the various initiatives taken for promoting
Digitalization and foreign exchange Regulations for IT Companies and Freelancers. It was informed that for opening of Freelancer accounts, foreign proceeds are must while enormous facilities and incentives are available to the account holder in this context.
With the help of slides, it was also informed that exporters can open Foreign Currency Accounts and they are allowed to retain USD 5000 per month or 50% of the export proceeds whichever is higher in this ESFC Accounts.
IT Companies, the balances, held in the ESF Accounts may utilize for making all types of payments of current account nature.Renowned professionals from Information Technology, Non-banking micro finance, E-Commerce and Cellular sectors took part in panel discussions organized separately for each sector for knowledge and professional guidance of participants. Ms. Kanwal Saeed,Chairperson of FPCCI Skill Development Committee conducted all the three Panel Discussion Sessions.