Women trade fair from June 25

Women Business Development Centre (WBDC), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has finalised all arrangements to hold a two-day Inter-provincial Women Summer Trade Fair from June 25 in the province. The exhibition basic aim is to encourage and develop linkages between women entrepreneurs of the country, said Nabeela Farman, Project Manager WBDC, while briefing media persons here on Thursday.
Flanked by SMEDA provincial Chief, Javed Iqbal Khattak, she said that the event would be handy to promote products of local women entrepreneurs of the country. She informed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development, Sitara Ayaz would formally inaugurate the two-day women business show. More than 40 stalls of different products of women entrepreneurs' would be displayed, she maintained.
Nabeela said that it would be the first mega women entrepreneurs' exhibition going to be held under the auspices of WBDC. The exhibition will not only provide opportunity to promote women products, but it would also help to develop linkages between local entrepreneurs of the country.
She said the event would be continued throughout the day on June-25 and 26, in which 40 different stalls of embroidery, handicraft, and variety of women products would be exhibited. He said that most of products were displayed from D I Khan, Chitral, Swat, Bannu and Hazara in the exhibition. She extended special gratitude to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KPCCI) along with co-sponsored Pepsi, R-sheen, and Profession Academy of Commerce (PAC) for financial support to make the event successful.
Nabeela said that WBDC had achieved milestone over the past one year in advocacy services, capacity building and technical assistance to women entrepreneurs in the province.
Replying to a question, she said that the lack of financial assistance, absence of market access and incompatible quality of products are the main hindrances in promotion of local women entrepreneurs' stuffs. She said that about 600 women businesspersons have registered with the WBDC, in which many of them run their own business at lower and higher level.
Javed Khattak, SMEDA provincial chief, on the occasion, said that the exhibition prime objective is to provide an opportunity to interlink and compete women entrepreneurs' products of the country, saying that the event would be helpful to develop interconnected relations between businesswomen. He added that the women business fair would also develop a soft image of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He viewed that the KP women are very talented, have the potentials to recognise their skills both at national and international level. He said that rural women are more enterprising as compared to urban areas. He appreciated the efforts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commerce of Commerce & Industry (KPCCI) along with other co-sponsors for financing and supporting the event. SMEDA provincial chief expressed the hope that the exhibition would be helpful to provide access to women products across the country.