Damascus, July 28 (SANA)TheDamascus Chamber of Industryand theInternational Labour Organization(ILO) discussed on Monday measures to support women entrepreneurs and small businesses, including initiatives to reviveSyria’s textilesector and expand opportunities forwomen-owned enterprises.

Wafaa Abu Labda, chair of the Women Industrialists Committee at Damascus and Damascus Countryside Chamber of Industry, said many women had turned their hobbies into income-generating businesses after industrial facilities were damaged during years of conflict and employment opportunities became scarce.

She said creating an enabling environment for those initiatives to grow into sustainable businesses was essential to supporting household incomes and contributing to Syria’s economic recovery.

Paula Bulancea, the ILO representative, said the organization is implementing the “Weaving Hope” project in cooperation with the Italian government, which is funding the initiative.

According to the ILO, the project seeks to revive Syria’s clothing and textile industry through reforms to sector regulations, capacity-building for economic institutions and chambers of industry, and direct support for factories and workers to promote sustainable production and improve working conditions.

Bulancea said the program gives particular attention to women owners of small and medium-sized enterprises because of their role in supporting economic recovery.

Participants at the meeting called for permanent retail outlets for locally made products, greater participation in international trade fairs to promote Syrian handicrafts and heritage products, advanced training programs in cooperation with international fashion houses, access to long-term financing, the establishment of an integrated handicrafts complex and the launch of a unified digital marketing platform.

The ILO, a specialized United Nations agency founded in 1919 and headquartered in Geneva, promotes internationally recognized labor rights and social justice. Syria joined the organization in 1947 and has ratified 50 ILO conventions.