USAID’s Women Thrive in Bangladesh project on Wednesday hosted a job fair in Chattogram to connect local women jobseekers with employers and service providers, aiming to enhance their career prospects.

Nearly 1,000 women participated in the job fair, where businesses such as Four H Fashions, Clifton Textiles & Apparels Ltd, Pacific Jeans, Desh Group of Industries, Bdjobs and several NGOs set up booths to offer job opportunities and career counselling services, said a press release.

This job fair was organised to provide direct interviews, counseling, and networking opportunities for job aspirants and employers in the garment sector, creating employment for women and youth.

The event was inaugurated by Chattogram deputy commissioner Farida Khanom as the chief guest.

Special guests included deputy inspector general of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Sipan Chowdhury, senior advisor for corporate responsibility at PVH Corp Zia Haider Khan and of Pacific Jeans Group director Luthmela Farid.

Interim deputy country director-program for CARE Bangladesh Mehrul Islam, director of People and Culture Zehra Simeen Islam Rahim and chief of party for the Thrive Activity at CARE Bangladesh Aamanur Rahman also attended the event.

In recent years, Thrive project has organised job fairs for working women across various sectors, including the garment industry.

Encouraged by enthusiastic participation from employers and women job seekers, the project expanded its initiative to Chattogram.

Implemented by CARE Bangladesh, USAID’s Women Thrive in Bangladesh activity collaborates with the global brand PVH to empower women in the ready-made garment sector.

The activity provides a combination of professional skills and leadership development training for women ready-made garment workers in PVH Corp’s supply chain factories and communities.

The project aims to train more than 100,000 women workers in RMG factories and communities by 2026.