Pakistan

<p>The project &quot;Pakistan: Gender-responsive UK export information and network&quot; aims to strengthen bilateral trade between Pakistan and the UK as Pakistan&rsquo;s largest export destination in Europe and third largest export destination globally.<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The proposed interventions will focus on women-led MSMEs in the textiles and apparel (T&amp;A), handicrafts and home d&eacute;cor sectors. The interventions aim to</p><ol><li>increase market information for women-led MSMEs in the T&amp;A, handicrafts, home d&eacute;cor sectors and the agri-food sector</li><li>increase skills to self-assess export competitiveness mapping for women-led MSMEs in Pakistan</li><li>organize an inward trade mission and two info-sharing sessions in collaboration with a UK-based chamber of commerce</li></ol>

<p>The United Kingdom Trade Partnerships (UKTP) Programme aims to increase trade from developing countries to the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) by maximizing the benefits of UK and EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and the UK&apos;s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). The UKTP Programme works in partnership with government agencies, private sector organisations, public sector institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises and other local stakeholders.&nbsp;</p><p>The UKTP Programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth &amp; Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the UK&apos;s Trade Centre of Expertise. EPA and DCTS countries participating in the UKTP Programme will have access to high quality trade-related technical assistance through sector initiatives. Target beneficiaries will be export-ready SMEs that are committed to securing new trade opportunities with the UK. This project will aim to promote exports through facilitating access to markets, providing advisory services to SMEs to improve their products and business operations, and strengthening business support organizations.&nbsp;</p><p>This project builds upon the lessons learnt and achievements of the UKTP programme since 2019. Previous engagement with SMEs in multiple EPA countries has shown the benefit of selecting export-ready companies with compelling products for UK customers and consumers to participate and of preparing them specifically with UK market entry services to succeed in the UK market.&nbsp;</p><p>This project complements and works in synergy with UKTP in the Pacific. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>This project promotes economic empowerment activities through support in digital service sector to increase income and business opportunities for refugees and MSMEs, with particular focus on women and youth, in Kenya and Pakistan. It is implemented under the Refugee Empowerment through Markets Initiative (REMI) to foster digital, entrepreneurship and freelancing skills, and to support local MSMEs to improve competitiveness through digital marketing.&nbsp;</p><p>The project is developed in partnership with Visa Foundation to scale the work that ITC had piloted in Kakuma camp, and to pilot ITC&apos;s work with refugees in Balochistan, Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>