Australian deputy HC visits SCCI

Acting Deputy High Commissioner David Preston and Secretary Development Cooperation, Australian High Commission, visited Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Saturday. President SCCI Khawaja Masud Akhtar welcomed the Australian Acting Deputy High Commissioner and the Team of Market Development Facility (MDF).
He started with the discussion of issues faced by women workforce and said that SCCI along with MDF could play an important role in encouraging women empowerment. He suggested that in order to empower women it was crucial to provide them with a comfortable and safe environment at work to gain confidence of them as well as their families.
Expressing his views the SCCI Senior Vice President Waqas Akram Awan put forward the interest of Sialkot Business Community in enhancing the Trade Relationship between Pakistan and Australia. He insisted that Delegations from Australia should also visit Sialkot particularly as they always visited Karachi and Islamabad. He also mentioned the initiative of SCCI for Women Specific planned Delegation to Turkey. He also requested for support of MDF in terms of Leather Working Group (LWG).
Chairperson of Women Entrepreneurs Committee, Dr. Maryam Nouman, highlighted the potential of Sialkot Fertile lands for agriculture purposes. She also mentioned the lack of day care centers & women specific training centers in Sialkot. She also highlighted the need of support from MDF in terms of Horticulture and Women Financing Institutions.
David Preston, Acting Deputy High Commissioner, Secretary Development Cooperation, Australian High Commission thanked Khawaja Masud Akhtar, President and all the participants of the meeting. He endorsed that creating a safe and confidential work environment for women plays and important role in women empowerment and said that MDF will support SCCI in this matter.
He suggested making good connections with Australian High Commission in order to enhance trade relationship. He said that he would help in creating contact between Sialkot Chamber and Australian Trade Representative in Islamabad. He said that he would also facilitate Sialkot Chamber in creating linkages with Women Entrepreneur Network in Turkey to support the SCCI's planned Women Specific Delegation to Turkey.