A meeting of the SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneurs Council (SCWEC)was convened onSeptember 20, 2025, at Gulshan Club, Dhaka, under the chairpersonship of Ms. Hina Mansab Khan, SCWEC.

The objective of the meeting was to review the progress of SCWEC initiatives, assess key challenges faced by women entrepreneurs across the SAARC region, and define strategic priorities for the next phase of the Council’s work. The meeting also aimed to outline forthcoming programs and activities, strengthen coordination among member countries, and reinforce SCWEC’s role in advancing women’s entrepreneurship, regional cooperation, and inclusive economic growth.

The meeting was attended by Md. Jashim Uddin, President, SCCI, Mr. Chandi Raj Dhakal, Vice President (Nepal) and incoming President, SCCI, Mr. Mian Anjum Nisar, Vice President, SCCI (Pakistan), Ms. Hina Mansab Khan, Chairperson, SCWEC, Ms. Sabera Ahmed Koli, Former Vice Chairperson, SCWEC (Bangladesh), Ms. Yasmin Sathi, Executive Committee Member, SCWEC (Bangladesh), Ms. Taniya Wahab, Executive Committee Member, SCWEC (Bangladesh), Ms. Nazli Abid, General Assembly Member, SCCI (Pakistan), Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Butt, Secretary General, SCCI, Mr. Bader Munir, Director Internal Affair, SCCI. The meeting was moderated by Mr. Fatima Anwar, Associate Director Communications, SCCI.

Ms. Hina Mansab Khan, Chairperson, SCWEC welcomed the participants and expressed her sincere appreciation to the President and Vice Presidents of SCCI for their consistent support and commitment to advancing the agenda of women entrepreneurs within the SAARC region.

Mr. Md. Jashim Uddin, President, SCCI, reaffirmed the SAARC Chamber’s strong commitment to women’s economic empowerment as a cornerstone of sustainable regional development. He emphasized that empowering women entrepreneurs is essential for inclusive growth, innovation, and resilience across South Asia. Highlighting SCWEC as a vital platform for collaboration and policy advocacy, he encouraged member countries to further strengthen cross-border partnerships, enhance market access for women-led enterprises, and ensure greater representation of women in regional trade and business forums.

Mr. Chandi Raj Dhakal, Vice President (Nepal) and incoming President of SCCI, and Mr. Mian Anjum Nisar, Vice President, SCCI (Pakistan) emphasized the critical role of women’s economic participation in driving inclusive and sustainable growth across South Asia. They acknowledged the visible progress made by the SAARC Women Entrepreneurs Council (SCWEC) in strengthening confidence and resilience among women entrepreneurs, as reflected in their strong participation at recent trade fairs.

Ms. Yasmin Sathi, Executive Committee Member, SCWEC (Bangladesh) commended SCWEC’s continued efforts in promoting women entrepreneurship. She highlighted the Council’s growing impact and its role in empowering women-led enterprises across South Asia.

The meeting concluded with a collective commitment to further enhancing SCWEC’s role as a leading regional platform for collaboration, advocacy, and capacity-building for women entrepreneurs across South Asia.