The UNESCAP South and South-West Asia Office, the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka, and the Department of Commerce jointly organized a three-day Regional Training Programme on strengthening the digital competitiveness of women entrepreneurs

Digital skills are no longer optional; they are essential for business growth. When women entrepreneurs gain these capabilities, the impact multiplies across communities, markets, and the entire region.

Recognizing this importance, the UNESCAP South and South-West Asia Office, the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka, and the Department of Commerce jointly organized a three-day Regional Training Programme on strengthening the digital competitiveness of women entrepreneurs, held from 18-20 November 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, aimed at across South Asia.

During the programme, participants engaged in a rich lineup of practical, hands-on sessions, including:

• Digital marketing and online business promotion
• Using AI tools for marketing and sales
• Product development and branding techniques
• Addressing the digital divide and expanding cross-border trade opportunities
• Networking, peer learning, and cross-country collaboration

The programme was supported by WIFI DX (Women ICT Frontier Initiative, Digital Transformation) content developed by APCICT/UNESCAP, equipping women entrepreneurs with practical digital tools that can be immediately applied to grow their businesses. Beyond skills development, the training also fostered an inspiring environment for dialogue, innovation, and meaningful regional connections.

This effort reflects Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10). It also contributes directly to the implementation of the Inclusive Sustainable Business Strategy of Sri Lanka.

The programme brought together around 80 dynamic women entrepreneurs from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Maldives - creating a vibrant platform for empowerment, collaboration, and regional transformation.