GEW celebrated by YEF of Islamabad Chamber and Women Chamber of Khaber Pakhtunkhwa

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Young Entrepreneurs Forum of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa celebrated Global Entrepreneurship Week – GEW in partnership with Center for International Private Enterprise and Kauffman Foundation on November 14 and 15 inviting young entrepreneurs, established businessmen and students from different education institutes.

Hammad Siddiqui, Deputy Country Director of Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) while facilitating the session highlighted many key issues and challenges concerning entrepreneurship development particularly focusing youth. He said that creativity, marketing, understanding of basic financial and good communication skills can help launch successful business. He stressed that the only way to take advantage of youth huge resource is to provide an environment that encourages youth to adopt entrepreneurial career instead of competing for scarce job opportunities.

The participants thoroughly discussed the key impediments being faced by the aspiring entrepreneurs in Pakistan and also highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship for economic development of the country. The students underlined the need to develop a better entrepreneurial culture by making entrepreneurship an integral part of educational curriculum. They were of the view that private sector support in mentorship programs at college and university level could greatly help in promoting entrepreneurial culture in the country.

Students discussed many challenges they have to face to start a new business venture. It was stressed that Business Development Centers should be established for incubation and mentorship of students and to help assist aspiring entrepreneurs. They said that government support is needed to promote entrepreneurship culture, whereas, universities should introduce entrepreneurship subjects in the curriculum. The students were of the view that unavailability of finance to start a business, is one of the biggest problems for them and also not a single platform is available for students that could provide them roadmap and guidance to go into entrepreneurial world. They also emphasized that Media should encourage entrepreneurship culture that can inculcate a sprit in youth to choose business as a career.  Participants suggested that Chambers should provide platform to students help them in entrepreneurial career.

Zafar Bakhtawari, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that ICCI is the first Chamber in Pakistan that focused on youth development and organized many conferences, forums and seminars inviting youth and university students to generate more interest in youth for entrepreneurship. He said that our youth possesses immense potential and talent that must be exploited by harnessing their skills and capabilities and facilitating them to towards entrepreneurship.

Shaban Khalid, Former Vice President and Chairman of ICCI Young Entrepreneurs Forum highlighted the activities of YEF of ICCI and said that celebration of GEW was another effort of YEF to promote entrepreneurship culture which would ultimately generate a wave of entrepreneurship development across the country.

Shamama Arbab, Vice President of the Women Chamber highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship and encouraged young girls to utilize their potential and capabilities in entrepreneurship. She said that students should consult chambers to get support and guidance.

Posted by: Majid Shabbir
Moderator: BSO Forum
Secretary General: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry