Key Takeaways
- SMEDA is intensifying consultations with women chambers to address barriers faced by women-owned businesses.
- The initiative aims to promote women’s entrepreneurship and strengthen micro-enterprises.
- Aasia Saail, SMEDA Board Member, chairs the consultations and highlights the proposed Women Entrepreneurship Portal.
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has intensified consultations with women chambers across Pakistan to identify and address barriers faced by women-owned businesses, aiming to improve their access to finance, skills, markets, and business support services.
Aasia Saail, SMEDA Board Member, chaired the recent consultation session, emphasizing the need for stronger institutional mechanisms to address the specific needs of women entrepreneurs and make SME support programmes more accessible and responsive.
The initiative is part of SMEDA’s broader efforts to promote women’s entrepreneurship and foster inclusive economic growth, with a focus on supporting the growth of women-led enterprises and micro-businesses across the country.
Saail highlighted the proposed Women Entrepreneurship Portal, which would provide women entrepreneurs with business information, support services, and opportunities, adding that the portal is expected to be launched soon.
Additionally, SMEDA officials announced plans to establish a comprehensive database of women entrepreneurs to help policymakers and institutions develop targeted programmes and improve access to finance, incentives, training, and market linkages.
The consultations also revealed that women-owned businesses face significant challenges, particularly in accessing finance, markets, business information, skills development, and institutional support, according to representatives of women chambers.
SMEDA is collaborating with national and international partners, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD), to provide technical assistance, capacity building, and entrepreneurship development support.
The feedback from the consultations will help SMEDA develop demand-driven interventions and improve coordination with women’s business organisations to support the growth of women-led enterprises and micro-businesses across the country.
The consultation session was chaired by SMEDA Board Member Aasia Saail who called for stronger institutional mechanisms to address the specific needs of women entrepreneurs and make SME support programmes more accessible and responsive.
Aasia Saail, SMEDA Board Member
