To highlight the role of women entrepreneurs, an exclusive exhibition opened here at Convention Center on Saturday. Islamabad Expo 2011 ‘Invigorating Women Entrepreneurs’ is aimed at supporting the women entrepreneurs of the country by forming a direct business bonding between the rural woman and urban woman.
The two-day festival (9 & 10 April) has been organized by Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IWCCI) and co-sponsored by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Khushhaali Bank while the media partners include Pakistan Observer, FM- Power 99 and ARY.
Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, Chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA); Mrs. Shafqat Sultana, President, First Women Bank Ltd and UNIDO Representative in Pakistan were present at the inaugural ceremony of the expo 2011 to express their support to woman entrepreneurs.
The festival comprise of a variety of stalls including women apparel, jewellery, traditional handicrafts, paintings, furniture, marble and household items as well as a fun area for kids, cooking contest, food court, talent hunt, musical programme, and photo exhibition.
The expo is an endeavour of IWCCI to facilitate women entrepreneurs by providing them relevant knowledge as well as an opportunity to promote their business in local, national and international markets.
Samina Fazil, President of IWCCI said that “artisans and women entrepreneurs from all provinces of the country are present at the expo with their distinct work.” While describing the idea behind exhibition she said that “when every woman run her own business individually, there is a chance for a middleperson to take undue advantage of the marketing situation therefore we have established a link between city woman and city woman so that they can get due benefits directly.”
The stalls of garments and jewellery outshined all the other stalls as they were great in number as well as in variety and were attracting a great deal of visitors. Hamdard handicrafts stall presented unique wooden work, which was a speciality of Chiniot. “The items are available at a reasonable price here, that’s why I am buying this lovely pot” remarked Aaliya, a middle-age lady holding the coloured wood vessel.
One interesting stall by Oriental Threads displayed a variety of items made of coloured jute such as cushion covers, tissue box, mobile cover, and bags. While ceramic pots, traditional jewellery, bags and wall hangings were well placed at the Potohar Organziation for Development Advocacy (PODA).