Govt should address key issues of women entrepreneurs: Uzma Butt

Rawalpindi: /DNA/ – The Rawalpindi Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RWCCI) and Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aiming to provide a platform to improve their networking and excel in the field of entrepreneurship. President ICCI Shakeel Munir and President RWCCI Uzma Shahid signed and exchanged MOU documents at a ceremony held at chamber house Islamabad. Chairperson NBWC and Group leader RWCCI Ms.Hina Mansab Khan, Senior Vice President ICCI Jamshaid Akhtar, Vice President ICCI Muhammad Faheem khan, ,Ex Pesident ICCI Zubair Malik, Ch.Khalid , Senior Vice President RWCCI Almace Akhtar, Vice President Noreen Tariq, Founder President RWCCI Asma Kanwal, Former President Neelum Khalid, and General Secretary Junaid Yousaf , Hr. Manager Rahat Jabeen,Member Election Committee Ms.Saboohi Hussain , Executive member Asiya Shahid,Farah Sheikh , Muntaha Shahrukh  were also present on the occasion .Under the agreement, both organizations will provide all kinds of support and cooperation to facilitate Women .Ms. Hina Mansab Khan, Chairperson NBWC and Group leader RWCCI  stressed that the government should take measures to overcome the barriers for women entrepreneurs and encourage more females towards entrepreneurship for inclusive economic growth of the country.

She said that ICCI and RWCCI should make joint efforts to develop recommendations for the government to accelerate business activities, investment and exports. She said we will make joint efforts for promoting a positive image of Pakistan and enhancing SMEs, trade, investment, exports . Ms. Uzma Shahid Butt, President, Rawalpindi Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that the growth of women entrepreneurs was very important for the sustainable economic development of Pakistan. However, she said that women were facing multiple issues including lack of easy access to finance for establishing businesses.

She urged that the government should address the key issues of women entrepreneurs to enhance their role in the economic development of the country. She hoped that the collaboration between ICCI and RWCCI would help in promoting the interest of businesswomen for their better economic empowerment.Muhammad Shakeel Munir ICCI President said that creating opportunities and empowering women in entrepreneurship had always been the Chamber’s priority. The political turmoil was causing economic instability as already warned by the Finance Ministry and said that ICCI was ready to invite all major political parties for a dialogue on improving the economy as economic revival of Pakistan should be the top priority of all stakeholders. He said this after signing an MoU with Rawalpindi Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry at ICCI. By signing the MoU, both parties agreed to work together to resolve the key issues of women entrepreneurs and promote their economic empowerment. Both Chambers will strengthen mutual cooperation to help women entrepreneurs in business development and will raise the common issues of businesswomen at relevant forums for redress. Both trade bodies will arrange exchange of visits of their respective members to discuss matters of common interest. Muhammad Shakeel Munir, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that only 1 percent women in Pakistan were entrepreneurs, due to which the country was not realizing its full economic potential and urged that the government should make policies to encourage and promote women entrepreneurs to ensure robust economic growth of the country. He assured that ICCI would fully cooperate with RWCCI for promoting the interests of businesswomen.He said ICCI, being a proactive business facilitation entity, always took the lead for women entrepreneurs to get into the mainstream of the economy.Under the agreement both chambers will strengthen mutual cooperation to help women entrepreneurs in business development, he said. At the end of Ceremoney Mr.Shakeel Munir Presented Shields to Ms,Hina Mansab ,Nazli Abid,Uzma Shahid Butt, Asma kanwal and Neelum Khalid .ICCI Also Inked MOU With Karachi Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KWCCI) Malair , Founder President KWCCI Malair Ms.Nazli Abid and SVP KWCCI Afzala Shaheen Presented Traditional AJRAK Gift to President ICCI Mr. Shakeel Munir.