Dialogue stresses business environment for women

PESHAWAR: Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI) Charsadda and Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA), jointly organized a public-private dialogue to bring together key stakeholders for discussion on challenges and opportunities faced by women entrepreneurs.

The dialogue was attended by the WCCI president, executive council members, representatives from the district administration, including the additional deputy commissioner of Charsadda, tehsil municipal officers), the district social welfare officer, elected tehsil council members, and officials from SMEDA, NIC (National Incubation Center), the banking sector, civil society organizations, media, and local women entrepreneurs.

The organisers said the dialogue aimed to create a collaborative platform to identify barriers that hinder women entrepreneurs in Charsadda and propose practical solutions, promoting inclusive economic growth.

The gathering also provided an opportunity to foster networking between the public and private sectors and increase support for women-owned businesses at the local level. Mahvish Ayub, head of strategy at the NIC delivered a presentation on how collaboration and networking could significantly empower women entrepreneurs.

She highlighted the role that NIC could play in facilitating business growth by fostering linkages between Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and SMEDA, especially for securing business grants.

She emphasized NIC’s commitment to providing training on innovation and modern business practices, which are crucial for preparing women entrepreneurs to compete in today’s dynamic market environment.

Mahvish Ayub shared details about the registration process and how women entrepreneurs could access NICs training programmes, including online classes that cater to their needs. Moreover, she encouraged the participants to take full advantage of the resources and tools provided by the NIC, which include mentoring, networking opportunities, and access to business development services.

The provincial chief of SMEDA, Rashid Aman, analyzed the development needs for start-ups and SMEs in Charsadda.He explored the regulatory frameworks that impact SMEs and pointed out policy gaps that currently hinder business growth, particularly for new and emerging enterprises.

Rashid emphasized the urgent need for reforms in the corporate sector, highlighting the importance of providing policy support for SMEs, facilitating local trade, and enabling businesses to participate in export markets.

He stressed the significance of forging partnerships, both locally and internationally, to unlock new business opportunities and drive growth.Mussarat Qadeem, CEO of PAIMAN, and Tania Saleem, president of the WCCI Charsadda, recommended a full-day session focused on exploring opportunities and strategies for the growth of women entrepreneurs.

Tania addressed a key issue within women’s chambers, noting that many women chamber members often relied on the support of male chambers for representation, which she described as a non-democratic approach.

She stressed that women should be empowered to independently choose their representatives, enabling WCCI to grow autonomously and foster a more open environment for the expansion of women-led business ideas.

Mussarat Qadeem underscored the role that women entrepreneurs played in revenue generation and economic development, citing examples from countries like India and Bangladesh, where feasible business policies have significantly boosted women’s participation in the economy.

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Shehbaz Khattak talked on the KP Urban Policy 2030, emphasizing its relevance to women-led businesses. He said key aspects of the policy aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs, focusing on improving access to markets, infrastructure, and essential services that facilitate business growth for women in Charsadda.He said the district administration planned to offer office premises to the WCCI in government facilities, making it more convenient for women entrepreneurs to operate.