ITC-EDB-UK govt. launch SheTrades Sri Lanka Hub to bolster support for women entrepreneurs

Signing of MoU: Sri Lanka Export Development Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mangala Wijesinghe and ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton Witnessed by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and International Trade Centre (ITC) together launched the SheTrades Sri Lanka Hub, funded by the UK’s SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme.

The hub will serve as a resource centre to equip women entrepreneurs with the skills, market access and policy support required to successfully navigate international trade dynamics, fostering greater participation in global trade. 

Sri Lanka’s export industry has demonstrated resilience, with merchandise exports reaching US $ 16.17 billion in 2024, a 7.06 percent year-on-year increase, according to the EDB, despite the global economic challenges. 

The women-led businesses in Sri Lanka contribute to over 25 percent of the small and medium-sized enterprise sector in the country, yet face disproportionate challenges in securing international buyers and scaling operations, a situation faced by women entrepreneurs around the world. The hub will provide tailored training, trade facilitation and networking opportunities to bridge this gap and capitalise on the momentum of Sri Lanka’s economic growth and increase exports.

The SheTrades Sri Lanka Hub joins a global network of 20 SheTrades hubs around the world spanning Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Middle East and North Africa.

ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton reaffirmed the ITC’s commitment to gender-responsive trade policies. 

“Women’s economic empowerment and gender equality, as we all know from experience, are goals that we must keep working at daily. And the SheTrades hubs, such as this one, are a fantastic network that ensures that women-led businesses have the support they deserve.” 

The SheTrades hubs are a force for change and a testament to the importance of having local solutions owned and led by local actors. Last year alone, they served over 1000 women-led businesses, from Kenya to Mauritius, Mongolia to Argentina.

In addition to capacity-building programmes, the hub also advocates for gender-inclusive policies, ensuring that trade regulations are more accessible and beneficial for women entrepreneurs.

In December 2023, the SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme organised a UK trade mission to Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the EDB, where 13 UK companies engaged in business-to-business meetings and company visits with women entrepreneurs in Colombo, Kurunegala and Jaffna. The trade mission generated over £100,000 in business leads within the first three months, with an estimated annual value that will reach over £600,000.

The ITC will also facilitate two export procedure trainings in Colombo from March 17 to 20, to support the women-led businesses navigate the requirements to export to the UK. This follows the January launch of two UK export procedure handbooks for Sri Lankan women-led businesses – in agrifood as well as those in textiles and apparel, footwear, women’s accessories and home décor.

With Sri Lanka’s service exports projected to grow steadily in 2025, integrating more women-led businesses into global supply chains is not just an economic necessity but also a driver of sustainable development. The launch of the SheTrades Sri Lanka Hub reflects the commitment of the EDB and ITC to position women entrepreneurs at the forefront of the country’s trade ambitions, ensuring a more diverse and resilient economic future.