WEConnect hosts two conferences for women

WEConnect International hosted two conferences over four days in Dhaka and Chittagong to provide opportunities for over 100 women-owned businesses to grow their network and connect with more than 30 large corporations.

The in-person conferences were part of the 3-year project titled ‘Women’s Empowerment through Economic Inclusion’ funded by the US Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, said a statement.

US Senior Programme Manager Charles Pritchard delivered the keynote address to an audience that included both local and multinational corporations. “Investing in the success of women-owned businesses is key to the future prosperity of the region,” said Charles Pritchard.

“This forum—and events like it—help realise two important priorities for US foreign policy in South Asia: the United States’ efforts to secure supply chains across the area and the growth of gender equality and women’s economic participation.”

The objective of the event, as well as the project itself, is to generate long-term opportunities for women-owned businesses to develop the skills necessary to not only connect but conduct business with large buyers, including local and multinational corporations, government agencies, and non-profit and non-governmental organisations, said the statement.

“Women business owners constitute the most promising engine of growth in Bangladesh,” said Saritha Venumbaka, Chief Operating Officer, WEConnect International.

“By focusing on women’s economic empowerment and advancing gender equality, India will capture the tremendous economic potential women business owners can bring to the economy, including job creation.”

Highlights of the conference include two capacity-building training sessions for women-owned businesses—unique selling propositions for products and services, and business resilience emphasising business growth.

The business matchmaking session included 1:1 business pitching sessions between women business owners representing a variety of industries including manufacturing, professional services, IT and tech services, and dozens of corporations.

The Women’s Empowerment through Economic Inclusion project also includes India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. More than 700 women entrepreneurs have participated in capacity-building training sessions and networking with dozens of corporations, many of whom have committed to sourcing from women-owned businesses.