Development of women entrepreneurs to enter international market

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board organised a half day seminar on the theme ‘Development of Women Entrepreneurs to the International Market’ at the EDB Auditorium, Colombo 02, on 25 May with the objective of creating awareness among women entrepreneurs on business opportunities in the international market, as part of the overall program for developing 2,000 new exporters by 2020.

Presentations were organised under the theme of Introduction of export procedures, Presentation on National Program to establish 2000 new Exporters, How to enter the global value chain, Sharing the export experience by leading women entrepreneurs and Importance of E-Commerce in businesses.

“Governmental and non-governmental organisations in the recent past have paid more attention to women’s entrepreneurship development with the objective of further exposing them into the mainstream of export business activities by promoting entrepreneurship and generating a movement in support of women in business globally,” EDB Chairperson and CE Indira Malwatte said at the inauguration.

Iron One Technology Ltd. CEO Lakmini Wijesundera shared her business experience among women entrepreneurs and said that, “Women can conquest the global market also through self-confidence.” She further said that it is significant that we make sure our stability in the industry after building our own identity and further said that her expectation is to be successful in the European Market and not only in the Asian Market. 

“I achieved clear success in my own business as a women entrepreneur,” Sandra Wanduragala, women entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience CEO of the Selyn ExportersLtd. stated at the seminar. Further she said that her path on handloom sector through the constant testing, different way thinking has been successful and currently around 500 women entrepreneurs are gaining benefits under her governance.

Meanwhile, Dhammika Jayawardhana, made an awareness address at the seminar on the governmental national program, i.e. ‘Developing of 2000 new exporters by 2020’ and the accessing path to the global market and significance of E-Commerce to the global value/market chain.

More women entrepreneurs waxed lyrical on the last session, i.e. the discussion session and gained more solutions for few women entrepreneurs who were on the verge of collapse. The Chairperson and CE, EDB and three senior EDB officers represented the panel discussion which continued for one and half hours. All sites of the export process were enclosed through the seminar and the seminar was a great opportunity for women entrepreneurs entering the global market.