COM: Govt to set up 14 new WBDCs at cost of Rs 1 billion: Shahid Rasheed

Government will invest Rs. 1 billion to set up 14 new Women Business Development Centres (WBDCs) in the country, at the pattern of the first Women Business Incubation Centre (WIBIC) operating successfully at Lahore.

It was disclosed by Mr. Shahid Rashid, Chief Executive Officer of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) on Thursday while addressing as Chief Guest at a seminar organized by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in collaboration with the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) on policy reforms to transform micro women entrepreneurs into small enterprises at a local hotel. Mian Mohammad Idrees, Vice President and Regional Chairman, FPCCI delivered address of welcome on this occasion. Mr. Andrew Wilson, Director, South Asia, Eurasia & Eastern Europe, CIPE, Mr. Moin M. Fudda, Country Director CIPE for Pakistan and Ms. Shamim Akhtar, Chairperson, Women Committee of FPCCI also addressed the seminar.

Mr. Shahid Rashid said that government was highly committed to enhance economic empowerment of women by creating more opportunities for them in micro, small and medium level business. He said that WBIC, Lahore was a humble beginning at SMEDA in this regard. The ambit of this effort is being expanded to countrywide by creating 14 more centres of this type, he added. The second important initiatives, he said, is known as Aik Hunar, Aik Nagar (AHAN), which has been developed at the pattern of internationally known concept One Village, One Product. Over 50 % beneficiaries of AHAN are the rural woman involved in handicrafts business, he said adding that 1500 women directly benefited by AHAN have increased there income manifold having access to modern facilities of designing, manufacturing and marketing through this project.

Mian Mohammad Idrees, Regional Chairman, FPCCI, in his address of welcome, suggested that back up services for credit programmes, including training in marketable skills, improved access to raw materials and new markets should be provided to women entrepreneurs. He stressed to enhance access of women to credit lines at special rates through exclusive lending windows. He urged the banking industry to expand networking with NGOs to identify female borrowers and simplifying their loan applications and sanctioning procedures.

Mr. Andrew Wilson, Director CIPE emphasized to introduce policy reforms at government level to provide conducive environment to enhance women enterprises from micro to medium level business in Pakistan A large number of women entrepreneurs from various business cities of the country attended this seminar.

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