To celebrate the International Women’s Day – 2022, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) organized an Export Marketplace Programme at Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute on 28th March, 2022.
Seventeen (17) women entrepreneurs registered in the “EDB Women Cell” and New Exporter Development Programme participated at this programme and the participants presented a three-minute pitch about their business plans and marketing programmes to a panel of judges appointed by the EDB. The programme was organized with the objective of developing the export capacities of women entrepreneurs and facilitating to link them to the global value chain.
The Chief Guest of the event, Mrs. Bhadranie Jayawardhana - Secretary to the Ministry of Trade – thanked the EDB for organizing the event at a time the value of earning foreign exchange is felt more than ever before Addressing the gathering, EDB Acting Director General Mrs. Malani Baddegamage noted that women entrepreneurs should be encouraged to acquire business-oriented soft skills such as language proficiency, ICT, and problem-solving skills.
“Women entrepreneurs in both developed and developing countries are socially powerful in education and making a positive impact to the society”, remarked EDB Director - Regional Development –Mrs. Sepalika Jayawardhana during her speech at the programme.
Out of the 17 women entrepreneurs participate at the programme, five participants were selected as the best export-oriented enterprises by the evaluation panel and cash grants were awarded to them. The winners were –M/s Shades IT Solutions, M/s RHS Zone, M/s Priyadi Nature Food Products, M/s Nature Healing Ayur PVT LTD, M/s Foreconns Canneries. All participants were presented with a certificate of participation.
The panel of judges comprised of prof. B. Nishantha, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Colombo, Ms. Ishara Wijemanne, General Manager, Design Academy and Dr. Premasiri Gamage, Chairman of the Business Development Center.
