The business woman
Key to Lanka's untapped reservoir of manpower :
Sri Lanka's economy has witnessed a steady revival in growth during
the past few months, with the country venturing into new avenues of
commodity and service monetization. Investmenthas evenly spread across
technology, innovation and BPOs, but close inspection begs to raise the
question: Is Sri Lanka putting enough effort to foster and realise its
workforce potential?
Let the numbers do the talking. Of the total economically active
population in Sri Lanka, women account for only 34%. What efforts are
being made to promote enterprise and entrepreneurial opportunities to
the female workforce of Sri Lanka?
Progression
Micro-level entrepreneurship by women has seen accelerated
progression over the past few years to be recognized as small and
medium-scaled enterprises (SMEs) today, but even these levels remain
staggeringly low. According to reports, with 80% of Sri Lanka's economy
being driven by SMEs, only 10% consists of women entrepreneurs.
"In the Government sector we see females in many senior positions,
most of them engaged insignificant roles such as policymaking," states
Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), Indira
Malwatte. "Now we also have more female entrepreneurs taking on
game-changing roles and getting into the crux of business. The EDB is
actively promoting this movement."
"We (EDB) are going to sign an agreement to launch a program together
with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for female entrepreneurs engaged
in the ICT, fruit and vegetable, and food processing sectors. These are
three areas we have identified where there's a potential for women grow
and benefit from assured revenue generation," she says.
"I believe empowering women empowers the whole nation," the
Chairperson elaborates.
She is also championing the She Trades Initiative in Sri Lanka, a web
and mobile application launched by the International Trade Centre (ITC)
that provides women entrepreneurs of the world to connect to markets
across the globe.
"Women can now share information about their companies and expand
through the best networks. This platform enables women to find new
business opportunities on a global scale."
Skills
The EDB has also conceived a program named 'Dayen Lovata', with the
intention of enabling local entrepreneurs to extend and advance their
localized businesses to contribute to the export economy.
"We have decided to pick 10 successful entrepreneurs from each
district in Sri Lanka who have showcased basic skills in business, to
foster export opportunities for their businesses. Of the 10 nominees, a
minimum two will be women, leaving room for the number to increase.
With this, our target is to empower at least 50 female entrepreneurs
over the course of the first round of grants."
"Today, the woman is in a position to be an entrepreneur and also a
breadwinner for her family," Malwatte says. "These women will also
instil similar values in their children. Intelligent women will benefit
the society. They are the new engine for economic growth and that due
recognition has to be given to them."
"When it comes to equality, Sri Lankan women have equal opportunity
in education. Even with certain limitations and boundaries in our
country's culture, I believe education is balancing it off.
If you are capable and professional, and if you are on top of your
job, there is absolutely nothing stopping women from reaching their
goals in life."
Topics
"We have created a women's cell in the EDB where for the first time
in Sri Lanka, we have an officer dedicated to helping out female
entrepreneurs," she says. "This year's World Export Development Forum (WEDF),
scheduled to be held at the BMICH in Colombo in just over one month,
will also focus on timely topics that are relevant for women, with a
female-centric workshop to better educate Sri Lankan female
entrepreneurs also taking place during the two-day summit."
"Our business women should take this chance to explore new
opportunities, and network with trade experts and business persons from
across the globe.
This is a very promising platform to partner up and expand your
business. Now is the time to grow."
- P.R.
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