After opening ceremony, Engr. Shadia Yousif Bakhait, Chief of UNIDO, Pakistan said Expo is good tool to empower women entrepreneurs. This event provides opportunity to women entrepreneurs to display and market their products, develop skills, find new customers and improve networking.
She said UNIDO is pioneer in introducing creative industries and its Women Entrepreneur Development Program focus on promoting gender integration, non-traditional sub-sectors of marble mosaic, inlay and handicrafts, home textiles, gems and jewellery.
She urged women entrepreneurs to design products keeping latest local and international trends in mind. Serious efforts aimed at diversity can guarantee success. Consumers are turning to the web and social networking sites because of convenience therefore business women should also utilize these tools for development.
Shahina Waheed, National Program Coordinator, UNIDO said "we are building capacity of women through providing training, holding expos, workshops etc., with help of local and foreign experts. We are focusing on product development, developing creativity for design business, gems identification, carving, faceting, jewellery making in collaboration with strategic partners."
She said efforts to build capacity of women, develop their linkages with national, international markets, develop partnerships with value chain operators will continue. The challenging but inspirational exhibition highlighted jewellery, handicrafts, garments, paintings, weaving, beadwork, painting, baskets, embroidery, other traditional folk arts. Serena Hotels also collaborated in event to bring buyers, sellers at a platform while representatives of FPCCI, IWCCI and other associations were also present.