TDAP’S WEXNET SHOW COLLABORATES WITH 12TH SAARC TRADE SHOW

                                

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are critical development objectives. Whilst gender equality is a basic human right, it is also a matter of national development. Trade pays a strong role in gender empowerment and evidence shows a strong correlation between trade and increases in female employment.

TDAP’sWexnet show scheduled to be held in Lahore on December 4th, alongside the 12^thSaarctrade show is a positive example of TDAP’s commitment to women’s development. “For us to realize the full potential of our country in economic, social and political spheres it is necessary to seriously address gender issues through national initiatives such as these, says RabiyaJaveri Agha, Secretary of the Trade Development Authority.

The Wexnet forum provides hundreds of women entrepreneurs the opportunity to exhibit their products, to network with each other, to share experiences and to form mutually beneficial partnerships for greater economic benefit and self-empowerment.  Some 380 stalls are provided for women exhibitors coming from far-flung areas of Baluchistan, GilgitBaltistan, southern Punjab, and the interior of Sindh. Besides leather and fashion garments,visitors can be sure to find varied handicrafts and embroideries from all corners of the country.

WEXNET is open to any woman who wants to display and sell her products. The exhibition is a culmination of training that TDAP has given women in various fields such as business management; export procedures and documentation, finance management, pricing, packaging and marketing.

TDAP is also committed to enhance the exposure and knowledge of women by sending them to many traditional and non-traditional international markets as delegates. These women delegations are heavily subsidized and are in sectors as varied as handicrafts, garments, Jewelry, engineering and pharmaceutical.  “Recently, TDAP has supported a women’s delegation to Australia”, says CEO Tdap, Mr S M Muneer

In the field of fashion merchandising TDAP has also provided financial support to women fashion designers for participation in reputed international fashion shows such as Milan and Paris.

“TDAP is committed to the development of women entrepreneurs and exporters and this can be seen at our annual women’s fair; Wexnet ” says Chief Executive S M Muneer.

“In Pakistan it is paramount that both the private and public sectors together work to unleash the unexploited potential of Pakistani women and to increase their contribution in export trade. It is crucial that gender sensitive export support policies be established and that the government improve and strengthen the capacity of export support institutions to provide relevant, targeted support services to women engaged in the export sector. This is a mandate that TDAP has taken upon itself and which it has executed diligently for the last 8 years”, says RabiyaJaveri Agha

It is hoped that the exhibition live up to its ideal and that a maximum number of women take advantage of the fair-- both as a platform to generate income and knowledge and as a venue for sourcing beautiful and exquisite products made by the women of our country.