The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) organized a half-day seminar on the theme ‘Development of Women Entrepreneurs to enter the International Market’ at the EDB auditorium last week to create 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 made on: Export procedures, National Program to establish 2,000 new exporters, Entering the global value chain, Sharing export experience by leading women entrepreneurs and Importance of e-commerce in businesses.
“Governmental and non-governmental organizations 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,” Chairperson and CE of the EDB, Indira Malwatte said.
CEO of Iron One Technology (Pvt) Ltd., Lakmini Wijesundara who shared her business experience, said, “Women can conquer the global market through self-confidence.”
She said that it is important to make sure of our stability in the industry after building our own identity and that she hopes 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,” said Sandra Wanduragala, a women entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience as CEO of the Selyn Exporters (Pvt) Ltd.
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. Dhammika Jayawardhana outlined the national program to develop 2,000 new exporters by 2020 and accessing the path to the global market and the significance of e-commerce in the global value/market chain.
The discussions also provided solutions for a few women entrepreneurs whose businesses were on the verge of collapse.
Malwatte 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.