Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka convened a high-level dialogue on “Women in Development, Economic Empowerment and the Sustainability of SMEs” at CanCham House on 17 June 2026, bringing together public and private sector leaders, development partners and entrepreneurs from Sri Lanka, India and Canada.

The forum featured Hina Shah, Founder of the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Career Development, who shared insights drawn from decades of experience in empowering women entrepreneurs. She highlighted the transformative role of women-led enterprises in driving economic growth, strengthening communities and fostering resilient small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) ecosystems, drawing on India’s experience in entrepreneurship development.

Established with the support of Global Affairs Canada and under the patronage of the Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, CanCham Sri Lanka continues to promote stronger trade, investment, innovation and people-to-people links between Sri Lanka and Canada. Advancing women’s economic participation remains a key priority, reflecting Canada’s commitment to gender equality, inclusive growth and sustainable economic development.

Discussions focused on practical strategies to improve market access, strengthen business ecosystems, expand financial inclusion and enhance the long-term sustainability of women-led SMEs.

Looking ahead, CanCham Sri Lanka announced plans to establish a core stakeholder group comprising representatives from Sri Lanka, Canada and the wider Indo-Pacific region to develop a long-term strategic framework for women’s entrepreneurship and SME development. The Chamber also revealed plans to host an Economic Summit for Women to encourage investment, innovation, collaboration and regional partnerships while showcasing successful women-led enterprises.