Women empowerment to global value chain
Female population in Sri Lanka is 52% of a total estimated population of 21 million. 70% of them are engaging in business and out ofthem only 35% have legally registered aswomen entrepreneurs. Although, it is recognized as an untapped source of economic upswing within last decade recently it has been gaining higher significance in economy.Women have beenan important partner in our homeland’s development and their contribution to the development of the country has been critical, and women played a substantial role in Sri Lanka’s overall success.
Sri Lanka Export Development Board ( EDB) is attempting to further absorb their essence and gain more women to effective financial pathway through quoting their covert talents as a solution for consisting economic decline.
Accordingly, EDB makes efforts to overcome more negative notions rising for women entrepreneurs and focus them to chart their own destinies.
Women Entrepreneur Database
EDB developed a software application and created a database for women entrepreneur to provide dedicated platform to them to enter the international market and currently more than 500 women have been registered.
Seminars for Women Entrepreneurs
Seminar in Kilinochchi: This was held under the governed of Wo m e n Parliamentary Caucus on 22nd March 2017, focusing on women entrepreneurs in Northern Province to coincide with the “World Women Day 8th March 2017”.
Seminar at EDB Office, Colombo: The follow up programme was organised in May 2017 at EDB head office with the objective of creating awareness among women entrepreneurs on business opportunities and international market trends.
Seminar in Vavuniya:
Seminar was held on 20th July 2017 at the District Secretariat Office, Vavuniya. The seminar was followed with a factory visit and a business clinic.
Export Opportunities:
EDB creates awareness among women entrepreneurs about local and international trade fairs and any knowledge sharing opportunities with an aim to establish longt e r m partnership and improve the relationship in between buyers and suppliers.The three selected companies got opportunities to participate at the “6th edition of the Global Economic Summit 2017” in Mumbai, India. The selected few companies were introduced to the International Market with EDB organised trade fairs. The participation will be in this year.
EDB activities with other parties
By creating big collaboration with business parties EDB offers more beneficial linkage to Sri Lankan women entrepreneurs. The International Trade Center ( ITC), joined hands with EDB to internationalise the SMEs by the concept “Shetrade” whi ch was launched at the Sri Lanka World Export Development Forum (WEDF) 2016, a big commercial online platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their products internationally. EDB implemented programme with ITC for export potential women lead- ers and export experienced leaders in IT and Tourism sector.EDB, National Chamber of Exporters ( NCE) and Youth Business Sri Lanka ( YBSL) work with IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) project, with the objective of provide dedicated services to support WLBs in the service sector. Other activities for Women Entrepreneur Development EDB is increasing awareness of women entrepreneurs on digital trade, E- commerce and export procedure through frequently conducted regional programmes and through products and market development programme. Maintaining their job profiles and participating in company visits we focus them to produce high quality and value added products.
Best Women Entrepreneur of the Year:
For the first time, EDB decided to award “Best Women Entrepreneur of the Year” under special (overall) awards category in order to recognise and reward women exporters for their outstanding contribution to the national economy at the Presidential Export Award Ceremony 2016.