A two-day exhibition to promote women in the creative industry of Pakistan, organized by the Industrial Development Organization of the United Nations (UNIDO) started at a local hotel here on Saturday.

A large number of women from across Pakistan participated in the fair, while attracted a large number of domestic and foreign buyers.

After the opening ceremony, Eng. Shadia Bakhait Yousif, Head of UNIDO, Pakistan said that the exhibition is a good tool to empower women entrepreneurs.

This event provides an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to showcase and market their products, develop skills, find new clients and improve networking, said.

Bakhait said that UNIDO is a pioneer in introducing creative industries as the focus of the Development of Women Entrepreneur in promoting gender mainstreaming and nontraditional sub marble mosaic, inlay and crafts, textiles home and gems and jewelery, said.

He appealed to women entrepreneurs to design products keeping local and international trends in mind and added that serious efforts to diversity can guarantee success.

Head of UNIDO said consumers are turning to social networking websites and therefore, because of the convenience business women should also use these toold for development.

Shahina Waheed, National Programme Coordinator, UNIDO said that we are building the capacity of women through training, holding exhibitions and workshops, etc., with the help of local and foreign experts.

We are focusing on product development, development of creativity in the design business, gem identification, carving, carving and jewelery making in collaboration with strategic partners, he added.

Efforts to develop the capacity of women to develop their links with national and international markets, develop partnerships with operators in the value chain will continue, said Shahina Waheed.

The challenging yet inspiring exhibition highlighted jewelry, crafts, clothing, paintings, textiles, beadwork, painting, basketry, embroidery and other traditional folk arts.

Hotels in La Serena also contributed to the event to bring buyers and sellers on a platform while representatives of FPCCI, IWCCI and other associations were also present at the occasion.