The Azerbaijan Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, successfully co-organized the Islamabad Expo at the Pak-China Friendship Centre. The primary objective of the Expo was to promote, encourage, and support small and medium enterprises, particularly women-led businesses by providing them with a platform to display their products and innovations to a wider audience.
The Expo featured more than 110 stalls showcasing a diverse range of products, including handicrafts, fashion items, food products, home décor, and other innovative goods produced by entrepreneurs from various sectors. The event provided an excellent opportunity for women entrepreneurs to present their creativity, business potential, and entrepreneurial capabilities to visitors, buyers, and stakeholders.
The exhibition attracted a large number of visitors, including prominent dignitaries, diplomats, business leaders, and representatives from public and private sector organizations. In addition to the display stalls, several thematic sessions and panel discussions were organized during the Expo. These sessions focused on key issues affecting small businesses, particularly women-owned enterprises, including access to banking facilities, financial inclusion, government support mechanisms, policy reforms, and capacity building. Speakers emphasized that strengthening SMEs, especially women-led enterprises is essential for sustainable economic growth and job creation.
On this occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, Patron-in-Chief of APJCCI, underscored the importance of such exhibitions in promoting entrepreneurship and economic activity. He noted that these platforms should be organized more frequently to provide continuous opportunities for small businesses to expand their networks, access new markets, and enhance their competitiveness. He also appreciated the successful organization of the Expo, which marked the fourth edition of this initiative.
Samina Fazil, President of IWCCI, expressed her gratitude to APJCCI for its valuable collaboration and support. She highlighted that the Chamber remains committed to empowering women entrepreneurs and enabling them to grow their businesses through exposure, networking, and policy advocacy. She further noted that the sessions held during the Expo effectively addressed the key challenges faced by women-led enterprises and provided practical recommendations for their advancement.
Overall, the Islamabad Expo served as a vibrant platform for business promotion, innovation, and networking, reinforcing the shared commitment of APJCCI and IWCCI to foster entrepreneurship, support SMEs, and contribute to Pakistan’s economic development.