TDAP Helps Women Entrepreneurs Expand Through E-Commerce

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has conducted an awareness session in Islamabad to help women entrepreneurs strengthen their e-commerce and digital business skills. The session focused on digital marketing, online business development, digital payments and opportunities to reach domestic and international markets.

Organized by TDAP’s Women Entrepreneur Division in collaboration with the Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD), the session was held at PITAD in Islamabad on 16th September. The program aimed to provide women-led businesses with practical knowledge to expand their presence in the digital marketplace.

Dr Hira Arshad, Assistant Director at TDAP’s Women Entrepreneur Division, said the authority is working to create greater export opportunities for women entrepreneurs. She highlighted training programs, awareness sessions and institutional support as key initiatives to help women-owned businesses access wider markets.

Key Highlights:

• TDAP holds an e-commerce and digital skills session for women entrepreneurs in Islamabad
• The session covers digital marketing, online business growth, payments and export readiness
• Experts highlight digital tools and e-commerce for expanding women-led businesses

Additional secretary (Trade Policy) of Ministry of Commerce Salman Mufti and Director General of PITAD Shazia Adnan also spoke at the session.Naima Ansari, former president of the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) and Hina Zulfiqar (vice president of Rawalpindi Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RWCCI)) were among the dignitaries attending the event.

The technical sessions were conducted by Muhammad Irfan, director general (Services & E-Commerce) at the Ministry of Commerce. He spoke about the e-commerce ecosystem, digital entrepreneurship, digital marketing, growth of online businesses, digital payments, policy and regulatory aspects and the role of data and digital tools for business development.

The participants were also informed about transitioning from local online sales to export readiness, establishing customer trust, organizing their digital business processes, and leveraging digital platforms for increased market access.

Women entrepreneurs and representatives of the women chambers of commerce and industry, Islamabad and Rawalpindi were present at the session. An interactive Q&A session for establishing and growing digital businesses was also held. The event ended with handing over of certificates to the participants by the former Trade Minister of Pakistan to Kabul, Kosar Zaidi, who addressed participants as well.

The event also saw the attendance of Naima Ansari, the former President, Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IWCCI) and Hina Zulfiqar, Vice President Rawalpindi Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RWCCI), who highlighted the Chamber's ongoing efforts to promote women entrepreneurship and empower women in the export market of Pakistan.

The session underscored the significance of digital transformation and e-commerce in reaching out to more markets and facilitating women-led businesses to become more effective in the digital economy.