EDF approves 'KP Women Entrepreneurs Skill Development Programme'

Board of Administrators of Export Development Fund (EDF) on Tuesday approved KP Women Entrepreneurs Skill Development Programme in Peshawar under which training centre for KP women entrepreneurs will be established with the aim at exploring new markets and improving the products for export-oriented activities in Central Asia, Afghanistan and India.
The project will be implemented by the Women Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Peshawar in collaboration with the KP Small Industries Development Board. The 72nd meeting of BoA of EDF was held under the chairmanship of Minister for Commerce, Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan.
The proposed centre will focus its trainings towards revival of the local products which has the potential for exports through imparting 600 trained women entrepreneurs in two years. KP women entrepreneurs will be trained to learn market driven skills, exhibition of their products, whereas young women will be trained as workers in skill-oriented business including hand embroidery, dress making, and designing, jewellery making and improved Khaddi-made products like shawls, bed linen, bath and home accessories.
The Board also approved funding for a project of Fisheries Development Board to establish pen fish farm of sea bass and groupers along the coastal belt of Thatta and Badin districts of Sindh. Under the project 50 pen fish farms will be established each of 1200 sq yards with total area of 12.5 acres. Pen culture is a technology of fish production in which an enclosure is established in shallow sea water or in a creek area outside sea.
The project aims at promotion of fisheries sector through private sector investment in high value aquaculture and farming systems by establishing cluster of pen fish farms at the coastal areas of Sindh which have no coastal aquaculture. Pen fish farms will be developed along the coastal areas of Sindh which are lying waste and are not generating substantial economic activity for the residents.
The Board also approved funding for the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) to be held in November this year. IDEAS is a Pakistan's major defence exhibition in which Pakistan's public and private sector and foreign companies producing defence equipment participate and showcase their products. Up-gradation of Embroidery Unit of the Leather Product Development Institute, Sialkot was also approved which, once completed, would impart training to the aspiring students on modern machines.
The Minister directed the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan to prepare for Expo, Astana 2017 with the theme 'Expo-Energy for Life'. The Expo will be held for three months and will focus on the renewable energy and its exports. The Board also approved the hiring of an Executive Director for the EDF Secretariat who would be responsible for financial planning and management of EDF funds, development of annual strategic plans, project development and evaluation and overall management of EDF Secretariat.