CCWE National Workshop calls for collective action

The Ceylon Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs (CCWE), in partnership with the University of Kelaniya, convened the National Workshop titled "Advocating for Change: Women's Economic Empowerment through Collective Action." This event was part of the FAME – Feminism: Action and Mobilisation for an Inclusive Economy Project, funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The workshop aimed to identify practical strategies to foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem for women in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Ayanthi Gurusinghe, CCWE President, underscored that economic empowerment for women cannot be attained through isolated initiatives or training programs. She stressed the necessity of connecting women entrepreneurs with finance, technology, markets, knowledge, networks, and policy-making institutions, while ensuring grassroots women's voices are heard in national dialogues.

Dr. Gurusinghe emphasized the workshop's goal of uniting diverse voices to transition from recognizing challenges to implementing sustainable solutions.

Matthieu John, Deputy Ambassador of France's Embassy, stressed the significance of partnerships in promoting inclusive economic development. He highlighted the FAME partnership's role in Sri Lanka, reflecting on the importance of international support for locally-led initiatives and collective actions.

Yasas Hewage, Chairman of the Industrial Development Board (IDB), delivered a keynote focusing on establishing an environment where women entrepreneurs can evolve from micro-enterprises to sustainable, growth-oriented businesses. He stressed the role of institutions in empowering entrepreneurs by providing access to technical knowledge, technology, productivity improvements, business development support, finance, and markets.

Hewage emphasized that enhancing women-owned businesses is crucial for Sri Lanka's industrial and economic growth, not merely as a gender or social issue.

The workshop concluded with a push for better coordination and ongoing collaborative efforts among government bodies, development partners, financial institutions, academia, the private sector, women's organizations, and entrepreneurs. Key priorities included enhancing access to finance and markets, improving digital and business-support services, establishing pathways from micro-enterprises to sustainable growth, strengthening institutional coordination, increasing access for women beyond Colombo, and ensuring women entrepreneurs have a louder voice in policy-making and economic decisions.

CCWE emphasized that this dialogue contributes to a broader advocacy effort for women's economic empowerment, integrating research findings and personal experiences for informed recommendations. The consensus was clear: women's economic empowerment is crucial for Sri Lanka's inclusive growth, industrial advancement, and overall prosperity.