The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), successfully conducted a two day training on Branding and Digital Marketing under the SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme, funded by United Kingdom (UK) International Development. The training, held on 13th and 14th February 2025 in Colombo, was designed to enhance the branding, social media presence, and digital marketing capabilities of 40 export oriented women-led businesses.
Conducted by Ms. Chiara Tirrito, Associate Programme Officer in Marketing, Branding, and E-Commerce at ITC, the training covered key topics, including branding fundamentals, effective brand strategy development, social media marketing, content creation, and AI-driven digital marketing tools. These sessions provided participants with practical skills to build compelling brand identities, create engaging digital content, and leverage technology to optimize their marketing efforts.
For export-oriented women entrepreneurs, this training offers significant benefits by enhancing their ability to position their businesses in international markets, improve visibility on global digital platforms, and attract overseas buyers. In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, strong branding and an effective online presence are crucial for businesses to compete internationally. By mastering branding and digital marketing, women entrepreneurs can increase customer engagement, expand market reach, and drive export growth.
To ensure a wider impact, a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme was also conducted on 10th and 11th February 2025 for nine (09) EDB officers and six (06) officers from the SME Foundation, Bangladesh. These trained EDB officers will conduct similar training sessions in regional locations across Sri Lanka, ensuring that more women entrepreneurs gain access to these vital skills.
During the opening session of the training programme, Ms. Anoma Premathilake, Additional Director General of the EDB highlighted the importance of empowering women entrepreneurs with modern marketing strategies to strengthen their competitiveness in international trade. Through the SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme, EDB and ITC continue to foster inclusive economic growth by connecting women entrepreneurs to global trade opportunities and equipping them with the tools needed for success.
