Amid intensive efforts to support women's economic empowerment and develop their capacities for commercial expansion and access to international markets, the Damascus and Damascus Countryside Chamber of Industry launched a specialized training program titled "Developing Exhibition Participation Skills." This initiative is supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to serve as a bridge for businesswomen toward broader marketing horizons.The opening day was attended by chamber board members, including Eng. Wafaa Abu Labdeh, Chairperson of the Businesswomen Committee; Mr. Anas Traboulsi, Chairman of the Exhibitions Committee; and Mr. Anas Al-Sabaa, National Coordinator for the International Labour Organization in Syria. All parties reaffirmed their joint commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and equipping them with the practical tools needed to compete in local and regional arenas.Eng. Wafaa Abu Labdeh praised the cooperation with the ILO, noting that it dedicates significant space to supporting and empowering women through intensive, high-quality programs. She emphasized that training and skills constitute about 70% of the factors driving a woman's success and sustainability in the labor market. She added that this training is particularly important as it precedes upcoming international participations for businesswomen. Furthermore, she pointed out that participants now have the opportunity to acquire scientific, well-studied marketing strategies and knowledge, saving them from many of the challenges and trial-and-error attempts that entrepreneurs previously had to overcome through field experience alone.Mr. Anas Traboulsi explained that this training program is an essential milestone for capacity building. It qualifies participants to present their products using integrated professional methods covering assembly, pricing, and quality enhancement. This ensures the avoidance of marketing pitfalls and elevates Syrian products to meet the expectations of target markets, most notably the upcoming "Syrex Jeddah" exhibition. He stressed that exports represent the lungs of the national economy and a vital asset to expand the scope of competition, overcoming the limitations of the local market within a free and open economy.For his part, Mr. Anas Al-Sabaa valued the strategic partnership between the organization and the chamber. He commended the active role played by the chamber and the Businesswomen Committee in supporting and developing the efficiency of women entrepreneurs to expand their industrial and commercial activities. He noted that this workshop is a practical step aimed at preparing participants for upcoming external exhibitions in Jeddah and Amman. He concluded his speech by emphasizing that the ultimate goal of all these initiatives and practical workshops is to create decent job opportunities that ensure sustainable income and a dignified life, positively reflecting on social stability and harmony.The training program was conducted by Mr. David Al-Saddi, Chief Trainer and Consultant in Entrepreneurship Support. The training targeted women nominated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, as well as industrial businesswomen participating in the Damascus International Fair and the Syrex exhibitions in Jeddah and Amman. The program focused on enhancing the participants' efficiency in managing exhibition stands and qualifying them to achieve maximum commercial benefit from specialized exhibitions. It covered key themes including precisely defining participation goals, identifying target groups and clients, selecting the most suitable products for display, setting pricing strategies, studying costs, preparing integrated promotional plans before and during the exhibition, setting up booths to display products attractively, and developing professional communication skills with visitors and buyers
30/8/2026
