A memorandum of understanding was signed recently between the South Punjab Women Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SPWCCI) and the USAID/Pakistan Firms project. Under this MoU, USAID's Firms Project will facilitate the acceleration of private sector-led economic growth, specifically for women-run businesses in Southern Punjab, through the adoption of market-oriented technological, managerial, and organisational best practices.
The prospect for this collaboration emerged from the Women's Small and Medium Enterprise Trade Fair arranged by SPWCCI in November 2009. At the event, Suzanne Savage, Gender Advisor of the Firms Project and Aneela Iftikhar, the President of SPWCCI, first explored the opportunity for meaningful joint economic interventions to promote women's entrepreneurship in South Punjab.
The business environment for Pakistani women in general can be restrictive in terms of socio-cultural atmosphere, policies, regulatory arrangements, and institutional mechanisms. Women entrepreneurs brave these inherent biases to make a success of their business ventures, and support from their male family members, makes a significant difference.
Speaking on the occasion, Aneela Iftikhar, the force behind the establishment of SPWCCI, said, "The signing of the MoU with the USAID Firms Project demonstrates our commitment to enable women entrepreneurs to play an active and productive role towards prosperity of their households, their cities, and their country".
She further added, "Women entrepreneurs will benefit immensely from the mission of USAID's Firms Project to improve government service delivery and develop dynamic, internationally competitive firms to accelerate sales, investment and job growth. We are glad that SPWCCI took the lead in joining hands with the USAID/Pakistan Firms Project to ensure the special focus of its future activities on the women of South Punjab".
Due to the economic deprivation of the region, South Punjab has been identified as one of the key intervention areas by USAID. The women entrepreneurs of this area are still facing business start-up problems, and they require initiatives that will improve their skill levels and create a more enabling environment for women-owned businesses.
Under this MoU, the USAID/Pakistan Firms Project and SPWCCI will enhance the skills of women entrepreneurs and will provide Business Development Services to improve their operations and realise greater benefits from their labour. Special attention will also be paid to developing the capacities of public and private support institutions to create a more conducive and enabling environment for women-led enterprises. On the social front, events like the Spouse Appreciation Pro.-PR
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