Munter lauds Pak female entrepreneurs

US Ambassador Cameron Munter Tuesday lauded the successes of female entrepreneurs in Pakistan during a visit to the Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI). During his visit, Ambassador Munter and Dr Marilyn Wyatt met more than 100 successful women entrepreneurs, including Samina Fazil, founder and president of the IWCCI and owner of Misha’s Collection, which was founded in 1989 with start-up funding of about $1,100 and now exports goods to international markets. “The American Mission is committed to helping women-led businesses and women entrepreneurs, because Pakistan’s prosperity is closely linked to not only the success of its men, but also that of its women entrepreneurs,” said Ambassador Munter. He encouraged the members of IWCCI to work with other chambers of commerce across Pakistan to present a unified voice to lobby the Government of Pakistan for necessary reforms to remove obstacles that hinder economic growth. “A sustainable future for Pakistan will require significant participation of the private sector and significant reforms on the part of the government to enable the private sector to flourish. It will require a common vision and the participation of the people of Pakistan and the visible commitment of the government to the people.” He said the United States is committed to the development of the next generation of women entrepreneurs and business leaders in Pakistan. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Pakistan has trained more than 70,000 women micro-entrepreneurs in Punjab and Sindh in financial literacy. Through its Gender Equity Program, FIRMS project, and trade project, among others, USAID is helping create a socially just, democratic, and gender responsive society. These programs have helped Pakistani women-owned enterprises enhance their competitiveness and increase their sales, while also working on developing a regional trade portal for women entrepreneurs to facilitate trade among SAARC countries.