There was a time when entrepreneurship was only considered a man’s domain, but slowly and gradually the tide shifted and now women are also proving themselves in every field.
empowerment
There was a time when entrepreneurship was only considered a man’s domain, but slowly and gradually the tide shifted and now women are also proving themselves in every field. It is also heartening to see that there are various organisations that not only promote and encourage women entrepreneurs but also give them opportunities to learn more about trade. And one such organisation is Dawood Global Foundation (DGF) who through its initiative Ladiesfund, supports and empowers Pakistani women entrepreneurs. They have been conducting a series of different educational sessions to equip participating women in diverse range of subjects. These sessions engage women entrepreneurs- from diverse background and business ideologies, together and leverage their combined potentials by introducing them with the concept of franchising and how could they get one.
And quite recently, Ladiesfund in collaboration with Amante Boutique; the Sri Lankan brand franchise in Karachi organized an interactive session on, ‘How to get a Global Franchise’. Professionally recognized and business oriented women were invited to attend the session in order to develop their abilities with knowledge and understanding of working with a franchise. The session was privileged with the presence of H. M. B. Herath, the Consul General of Sri Lanka, who shared his learning with the audience regarding the trade and business opportunities that exist between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He spoke at length about Sri Lankan economy that is growing exceptionally and welcomes collaborations related to business and trade from Pakistan. He also added that Consulate will facilitate those interested in bringing Sri Lankan franchises to Pakistan. Franchising negotiations take over 6 months but can lead to 15-18 months because of financial take over and a series of meetings to finalize the deal.
The session was facilitated by Imran Khalil Naseer, Chairman of Pakistan Maldives and Sri Lankan Business Council and Tara Uzra Dawood. The session was conducted in an interview manner, where Tara Uzra asked different questions related to franchising basics and Imran Khalil Naseer answered them efficiently. Advising the attendees, Khalil said, “The failure rate is very low in franchise ownership but it happens when people are attracted toward money and aren’t committed to the actual business model. Invest where you really are interested.”
In addition to discussing trade opportunities, Ms. Dawood mentioned that Ladiesfund Corporate member, Moneeza Butt has offered her firm’s tax specialists to help with specific audit needs that may arise from trade. The session ended with an interactive Q/A session and tea was served. We hope that more of such events are held in the future, so that our women leave no stone unturned.
caption:
Consul General of Sri Lanka, H. M. B. Herath along with Tara Uzra & Imran Khalil Naseer and others
