Meta has partnered with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the National Institute of Banking & Finance (NIBAF), and Demo to launch the second phase of its flagship ‘SheMeansBusiness’ programme in Pakistan.
They hope to digitally empower 500 women entrepreneurs and other high-value small businesses by providing training, resources, and networking opportunities.
This week, Karachi hosted the “The Digital Bridge: Advancing Financial Inclusion for Pakistan” launch ceremony.
Officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Women Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and other prominent members of the telecommunications, banking, and business communities were present.
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As Meta will digitally empower 500 Pakistani women entrepreneurs, SBP Deputy Governor Sima Kamil, who attended the launch, said: “Small businesses play a crucial role to boost the country’s economy. We are pleased to support Meta’s initiative to empower more women entrepreneurs and small businesses and help them scale their businesses in Pakistan.
“We hope that the knowledge they gain will also help them tap into export markets.”
According to Beth Ann Lim, the director of policy programmes at Meta, the company is dedicated to assisting Pakistan’s economic development by empowering small business owners, particularly women entrepreneurs, by enhancing their skills in the digital domain and assisting them in the creation of their revenue-generating channels.
“We thank SBP, NIBAF, and Demo for the collaboration and look forward to working together towards our collective goal of unlocking the potential of women-owned businesses and creating a more equitable society.”
Demo will choose the new programme participants from the pool of small business owners who took part in the SheMeansBusiness curriculum in Pakistan’s first phase as well as the country’s export-orientated chambers.
They will be given the methods and tools required to thrive in the cutthroat online environment and expand their businesses.
Dial Zero, Meta’s local associated sales partner, will provide advanced training on export advertising to a total of 100 participants.
To help them strengthen their presence by reaching target customers locally and internationally, Meta will provide ad credits on Facebook.
Appreciating the initiative, Riaz Chunara, Managing Director of NIBAF, said, “It’s important to make sure that small businesses are well-equipped with tools and techniques to leverage the digital space so they can advertise more effectively and expand their customer pool.” It not only helps them increase their reach in Pakistan but also gives them the push they need to go beyond.”
In 2018, Meta launched its SheMeansBusiness initiative in Pakistan. So far, more than 30,000 women across 51 cities of Pakistan — including AJK and GB — have received training.
