Businesswomen from Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh have launched the "First South Asian Women Entrepreneurs Eid Festival 2004" at the Spectra Convention Centre at Gulshan.

Talking to newsmen after formally inaugurating the fair, Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Choudhury said the fair has brought the region's women entrepreneurs together.

"The fair will help promote products of women entrepreneurs in the region. Outcome of the fair will benefit them. It will also encourage women to come to business to play greater role to the society," he said.

Saarc Chamber Women Entrepreneurs Council (SCWEC), Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) and High Commission of Pakistan in Dhaka have organised the six-day event.

Nasreen Awal Mintoo, chairperson of SCWEC and president of WEAB, said the fair have created the opportunity for Bangladeshi businesswomen to have close contact with their counterparts in South Asia.

She also announced they will organise an annual fair of goods produced by women entrepreneurs from next year. Next year's fair will be held in Pakistan with wide participation.

A total of 20 participants from Bangladesh, six from Pakistan and one each from India and Nepal are participating in the November 2-7 festival. Women garments, jewellery, handicraft and cottage items such as artificial flowers, bed sheets and pillow covers will be available at the fair.

Apart from WEAB members, members of National Association of Small and Cottage Industries of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Handicrafts Manufacturers and Exporters Association are taking part in the festival. The fair will remain open to visitors from 11am to 10pm. Entry fee is fixed at Tk20 for each person.

Abdul Awal Mintoo, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and leading women entrepreneurs attended the inaugural function.