Historically, corporate boards in many countries have been comprised mainly of men.  A number of European market regulators are considering imposing quotas of women on the boards of publicly traded companies as a requirement in the new Code of Corporate Governance, and this is likely to compel business to consider gender diversity of corporate boards.

A report published by the Institute of Employment Studies notes that, “Despite long-standing anti-discrimination legislation in the US, UK and across Europe, women still remain under-represented in many occupations, most noticeably in high-level posts.  This phenomenon is seen at its most extreme when the composition of company boards is considered.  In the USA, woman constitute on average 14.7 per cent of board members on Fortune 500 companies; in the UK, women hold 11 per cent of FTSE 100 directorships, according to the 2008 Sex and Power report published by the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission.”

Read the rest of the article on gender diversification in Pakistani Corporate Boards.

To share an article with the Community of Women Entrepreneurs, send an email to partners@cipe.org.

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has been active in facilitating and promoting women entrepreneurs since last many years. TDAP has been instrumental in providing impetus to women development in exports by including women development programmes in its seven point strategy.

In continuation of this strategy,Women Exporters Network (WEXNET) is designed as an exclusive platform for women entrepreneurs from all parts of the country to put on display numerous products that they manufacture or market in a thematically classified environment. The idea is to encourage women of the country to come forward and play their due role in the economic development and uplift of the country.

WEXNET 2010, at Lahore had all the necessary ingredients of a successful international level exposition and offered everything which a woman entrepreneur may seek from an interactive platform of the highest profile to extract maximum mileage from the development of their businesses.

Continue reading ‘WEXNET 2010 at the Expo Center, Lahore’ »

This year Central and North Punjab Woman Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CNPWCCI) accoladed women entrepreneurs with Laurels of Honour 2009 for recognition of women extraordinaire  who have achieved remarkable accomplishments in their respective fields. This was the first award ceremony and will go a long way to acknowledge women who have made outstanding achievements in various walks of life, who are role models, who demonstrate initiative and pioneering spirit, who have contributed to the economic advancement of women and the quality of women’s lives in Pakistan.

More than 50 women were honoured at the ceremony from sectors such as banking, SMEs, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, IT, media, politics, education, beauty, community development, judiciary, art, entertainment, sports, gems and jewelry, construction and housing, services such as health care, hospitals, environment and manufacturing.

Continue reading ‘Laurels of Honour 2009’ »

An entrepreneur is someone determined to remain independent, an innovator with the ability to identify and define creative market opportunities, a calculated risk taker,  and someone apt at applying resources to their full potential.  The guidebook, How to Start a Business: A Guide for Women, published last year by CIPE-Pakistan is a vital resource for budding entrepreneurs in Pakistan.  Though it’s focus is on women, the guide covers the general process of entrepreneurship and is applicable to both male and female entrepreneurs.  The guide outlines important preparations for becoming an entrepreneur and maintaining a profitable business, along with case studies of successful business strategies developed by women in Pakistan.

Download the guidebook How to Start a Business:  A Guide for Women.

To share an item with the Community of Women Entrepreneurs, send it to: partners@cipe.org

The Development Finance Support Unit, SBPBSC-Lahore arranged a workshop on the financing issues of Women Entrepreneurs on 9th March, 2010 at SBPBSC Lahore. The purpose of arranging this workshop was to discuss the finance related issues of women entrepreneurs with the senior representatives of banks extending SME finance in the Lahore region. In this workshop, the senior officials from the banking sector, chambers of commerce & industry and other relevant institutions participated and shared their views and experiences.

The unique feature of this workshop was that the women entrepreneurs who have actually faced difficulties in obtaining loans from banks shared their problems particularly with the banks whereas the senior bankers discussed their viewpoint in assessing SMEs for a loan and gave clarification on certain issues. The workshop was conducted in the form of the following presentations delivered by various stakeholders to discuss their points of view on the financial problems of women entrepreneurs/SMEs, the impact of finance on their earnings and policy recommendations.  

Continue reading ‘Workshop on Financing Issues of Women Entrepreneurs’ »

Apart from my own art gallery business, I have been very much a woman entrepreneur. Currently I am Consultant for Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. From Feb. 26th to 28th, 2010, a huge expo is happening with a handicraft hall, a women entrepreneur hall, a textile and apparel hall and all other sectors such as agro food, seafood, sports good, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, gems & jewellery, minerals, auto parts, engineering goods, herbals etc. The fashion shows are being held daily. Those who are interested to participate as buyers for outsourcing or as exhibitors kindly send me names and email also. 600 foreign buyers are visiting from all over the world. Our website is www.tdap.gov.pk. They can get all the info and they should download this form and give my reference and also let me know. My personal TDAP email address is mehreen.ilahi@tdap.gov.pk. I would like women entrepreneurs from different countries to visit, network and do business.

Mehreen Ilahi
Consultant (Fashion & Media)
Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP)

To share an item with the Community of Women Entrepreneurs, send it to partners@cipe.org

After completing her studies in hotel and tourism management from Japan and Singapore, Qurat-ul-Ain had a thought one morning: “why not own a business?” The idea became the guiding star that led her to seek new horizons in the city of Lahore, Pakistan.

Starting up a business is highly demanding, yet enticing because the consolation prizes to be won are splendid. Qurat-ul-Ain says: “the biggest challenge starting out for me pertained to financial support and competition […] I had experienced all the difficulties that women face in the prestart up stage of their business. This is a time when women require very specific input and the right and proper guidance to ensure that they skim their ideas and do not give up.”

You can read more about Qurat-ul-Ain and other women entrepreneurs in Pakistan in the Sarsabz Foundation’s inspiring compilation, “Telling their Stories.”

To share an item with the Community of Women Entrepreneurs, send it to partners@cipe.org.

In Sialkot, Pakistan, the Center for International Private Enterprise conducted a workshop for women executive committee members on chamber management and entrepreneurship development. The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also formed a committee on women entrepreneurs. The CIPE workshop was highlighted in the Business Recorder: 

“Need Stressed to Identify Constraints Faced by Women Entrepreneurs”
19 November 2009

To share an item with the Community of Women Entrepreneurs, send it to partners@cipe.org.

Dear Women’s Organization,

My name is Dr. Andrea Smith-Hunter and I am currently a professor at Siena College in the United States. I am writing on women entrepreneurs globally and I want to ask your assistance in having Asian women entrepreneurs complete the attached questionnaire. Through the information obtained, we hope to learn more about the economic success of Asian women business owners. We hope that the information obtained will assist women business owners like yourself, regarding the challenges they face when initiating the start up, or the continuous operation of the business.
Continue reading ‘Study on Women Entrepreneurs (Asia)’ »

At 10am Lahore time (12am EST) on October 8th, CIPE Pakistan is hosting a Business Policy Roundtable on “Transforming Women’s MicroEnterprises into Small Businesses.” Follow live updates and participate in the online conversation on twitter (search for #beyondmicro) or facebook. Submit possible questions, comment on the action as it happens, and help bring this important and overlooked topic to a global audience.