ISLAMABAD
A total of 30 trainers from all over Pakistan are being trained on The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) global module, Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to strengthen business incubation centres, stated in a press release issued here on Wednesday.
The training has a special focus on gender dimensions of entrepreneurship training and business development so that business incubation centres can meet the needs and expectations of female entrepreneurs effectively.
The initiative is being piloted in 12 HEC accredited universities from all four provinces of Pakistan as well as Gilgit-Baltistan. Other development based organisations participating in the training including Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, Punjab Vocational Training Council and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA). The initiative is being supported by the ILO project Promoting Gender Equality for Decent Employment (GE4DE) funded by Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development (DFATD) Canada.
“Innovation and entrepreneurship are the hallmark of any vibrant economy”, said Ms Munawar Sultana Senior Programme Officer ILO, during the opening of the 13 day Training of Trainers in SIYB today. Ms Uzma Naz-HEC Representative said that they welcomed the ILO’s support under the GE4DE project, to establish this network of business incubation centres around Pakistan, saying that universities and colleges provided the perfect setting for students to generate business ideas and get the support and guidance to turn them into real enterprises.