Sri Lankan women entrepreneurs connect with UK companies through trade mission

The United Kingdom (UK)-Sri Lanka Trade Mission, part of the UK government-funded SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme, is connecting 13 UK companies with 45 Sri Lankan women entrepreneurs until December 6, 2024. 

Co-organised by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), the trade mission aims to strengthen bilateral economic trade between the UK and Sri Lanka and to unlock access to the UK markets for Sri Lankan women-led businesses, whilst offering the UK businesses new destinations to source from and diversify their product range. As Sri Lanka’s second largest export market, the trade mission is facilitating business-to-business opportunities between the UK companies and women-led businesses in the textiles and apparel and processed agrifood sectors with the aim of bringing new products to the British consumer. Participating UK companies are also conducting company field visits in the three regions, Colombo, Kurunegala and Jaffna throughout the trade mission. 

The opening session in Colombo, on December 2, 2024, included remarks from British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick, Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe and United Nations Resident Coordinator Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche. 

The panel session ‘Unlocking Sri Lanka’s Untapped Export Potential - How To Boost Sri Lankan Exports, Particularly From Women Entrepreneurs?’ featured UK Government Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Head of Programmes Trade for Development Simon Calvert, EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe, Women’s International Foundation Founder and Chair Seroshi Nandasiri, IAS Holdings Group Managing Director Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny, CBL Group Group Managing Director Sheamalee Wickramasingha, Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce President Dr. Nasir Awan, with moderator ITC SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme Programme Manager Dr. Michelle Kristy.

The business-to-business meetings are preceded by two information sessions for the participants, including an overview of the landscape of the relevant sectors in Sri Lanka with presentations from the EDB sector officers, representatives from the Food Processors Association and Joint Apparel Association Forum Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Standards Institute. FCDO Regional Trade and Development Advisor Fabian Hartwell and West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce CEO James Mason are also sharing information for Sri Lankan businesses on the UK market landscape, market entry requirements and prevailing trade preferences such as the UK Developing Country Trading Scheme (UK DCTS). 

Patrick emphasised the role of trade in empowering women and girls economically and encouraged collaborative efforts towards creating the right conditions and capacities for women-led SMEs to participate in and benefit equally from international trade, which would require all levers in the ecosystem.

Wijesinghe stated, “Women entrepreneurs are key drivers of innovation, resilience and inclusive growth in Sri Lanka’s economy. Despite their significant contributions, women remain underrepresented in international trade. This is why the EDB places a strategic focus on empowering women-led businesses to engage with global markets and this UK trade mission is an important enabler.”

Abeysinghe emphasised his appreciation for the broad geographic coverage of this mission, including the northern region and encouraged the delegation of the UK importers to have an open approach during their visit. He appreciated this UK-Sri Lanka trade mission, which targets women-led businesses as a well-timed initiative, given Sri Lanka’s economy undertakes a transformation.

Franche noted his appreciation for women-led businesses being the focus of this trade mission stating that “there is no way out of this fragile economy without growth. There is no way the country can grow without its export sector. We cannot achieve our export goals without placing women entrepreneurs at the heart of this effort.”
“I find this trade mission to be a positive step towards women’s economic empowerment,” said Hometex, Blackburn, UK Director Khushnood Ahmed.

“I thought the sessions this morning were really informative, especially the challenges that women-led businesses face in scaling their business. For us, we have networked with several women entrepreneurs and will most probably be doing some business with them,” said Manchester, UK Zouk Group Ltd Manager Tayub Amjad.
Funded by the UK government, the ITC SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme aims to foster an enabling gender-inclusive business ecosystem by promoting inclusive policy and data and engaging business support organisations, private-sector partners and women-led businesses in the Commonwealth countries and their key trading partners, including the ASEAN region.