USAID, Sialkot chamber of commerce and industry partner to launch women-led dairy initiative

SIALKOT - USAID’s Punjab Enabling Environment Project and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) signed a grant agreement to launch the Women Investment in Networks of Dairy Sector (WINDS) initiative, a women-led business network in the dairy sector of Sialkot.

U.S. Consul General in Lahore Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau, USAID Provincial Director for Punjab Lea Swanson, President of the SCCI Zahid Latif Malik, 30 female dairy farmers, and representatives from the Punjab Livestock and Dairy Department were present on the occasion today (Thursday).

Through this initiative, USAID is partnering with the SCCI to connect women involved in Sialkot’s dairy sector with training, milk-testing kits, and state-of-the-art dairy cold chain facilities.

“I applaud the commitment of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry to encourage women to capitalize on the economic potential of Sialkot’s dairy sector,” said Consul General Trudeau at the event.

“This initiative will not only empower women dairy farmers but also provide hygienic, fresh, and affordable milk to the consumers in Sialkot city,” she added.

“Our partnership with USAID will not only help us generate private sector investment in the dairy sector of Sialkot.  It will also enable us to empower women to take a leading role throughout the milk supply chain,” remarked the President of the SCCI Zahid Latif Malik.

USAID’s Punjab Enabling Environment Project is a five-year project to improve the business environment in the livestock, dairy, and agriculture sectors of Punjab.  This project exemplifies the efforts USAID has been making for many years to improve women’s access to economic opportunities.

-PR