UNB, Dhaka

In an effort to protect and promote women entrepreneurs, two legal and IT training firms, also owned by women, offers low-cost services.

The firms •- Dr. Taslima's Legal Consultancy Services and Technochic Ltd -- will provide legal services to women entrepreneurs to protect their property and goods and essential IT training to boost professional quality, and thus empower and promote women entrepreneurs.

Chiefs of the two firms -- Dr. Taslima Monsoor and Tarana Ahmed -- at a workshop here yesterday said it's for the first time that women-owned legal and IT firms were offering services exclusively to female entrepreneurs.

Any female entrepreneur can avail of the facilities spending only Tk 1,000, they told the workshop, on “Development of Women Entrepreneurs by Information Technology and Awareness Building for Selling l.egal Consultancy Services" at IDB Bhaban.

President of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Business and Industry Salima Ahmed, Deputy

Programme Manager ol Swiss-contact Dr. Afreen Haq, Executive Director of Adtain Publishing House, Tahmida Ahmed, UNFPA Representative Tahera Ahmed. Technochic Chairman Tamjida Saud, among others, addressed the workshop attended by owners of around 40 female enterprises.

Addressing the function, BWCBI President Salima Ahmed said female entrepreneurs were facing various legal and technical problems in running their business, mainly in signing contracts, both in local business and exportimport. "Without such support, they (women) will not be able to proceed," she added.

The BWCBI president sought support from different quarters for the next four years as women were legging behind in business activities. "By this time, we will be able to strengthen our position," she said.

Technochic Managing Directoi Tarana Ahmed said they have a plan to extend IT training outside Dhaka if they get support.

After the workshop, the female entrepreneurs exhibited iheii products.