Pakistan needs to create 36 million jobs over the next 10 years to absorb annual additions to its work force. This was stated by President, National Entrepreneurship Working Group (NEW-G), Rizwan Razvi, in his keynote address at the inaugural seminar on 'importance of building entrepreneurship ecosystem in Pakistan', organised by NEW-G with the support of Intel. The seminar was held in collaboration with the United States Consulate General, Karachi, and Injaz Pakistan and supported by Institute of Business Administration (IBA), MITEFP (MIT Enterprise Forum Pakistan), Gillette Pakistan and Global Entrepreneurship Week-Pakistan, an initiative of the Kauffman Foundation.
The National Entrepreneurship Working Group (NEW-G) was recently formed to serve as a national, multi-stakeholder forum for sharing ideas, information and knowledge to support the growth of entrepreneurship and innovation in Pakistan.
The President NEW-G said: "In order to build a sustainable entrepreneurship infrastructure, we need a collaborative platform that functions as an advocacy group, creates linkages among these organisations. Intel played a critical role in the formation of NEW-G and we appreciate its support to our inaugural seminar on building the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Pakistan."
Intel supports NEW-G's initiatives to enhance formal entrepreneurship education in high schools and universities, improve access to finance for start-ups, optimise regulatory environment to facilitate SMEs, create awareness about entrepreneurship especially positive impact of women entrepreneurship and mentorship programme to help the youth deal with business challenges.
Noteworthy seminar panellists included Nadeem Naqvi, CEO Karachi Stock Exchange; Dr Rizwan Sheikh of Karachi School of Business Leadership; Sarfaraz Rehman, CEO, Engro Foods; Dr Zahir Ali Syed, Co-Chair MITEFP; Tehseena Rafi, MD Sabz Initiative; Atif Azim, Director Dot Zero; Nilofer Saeed, CEO Hobnob Café'; Sabeen Haque of US Pakistan Women's Council and Huma Adnan, CEO FNK Asia.
Speaking on the occasion, Naveed Siraj, Country Manager Intel, said: "Intel Pakistan has a proud record of helping women improve their lives and accelerating their inclusion in national economic development. We provide ICT-based learning and skill-development platforms like Intel E-Basics & Intel Easy-Steps which open up a world of possibilities for women through knowledge tools which could help them start their own businesses."
Addressing the participants, US Consul General Michael Dodman said: "Entrepreneurship, particularly the creation of new small and medium size businesses, is the driver of economic growth. We have seen the benefits of entrepreneurship in the United States, and are pleased to be able to partner with groups like NEW-G and others who are working to drive growth and development in Pakistan."
Copyright Business Recorder, 2013
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