Trade For Impact Conference Showcases South Asia’s Women Entrepreneurs Driving Global Supply Chains

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 15: WEConnect International, with the support of the U.S. Department of State, successfully hosted the final Regional Business Conference “Trade For Impact” in Bengaluru under the project “Maximising Women Business Owner Contributions through Trade.”

In South Asia, women-owned businesses account for nearly 20% of enterprises, yet less than 5% participate in international trade. Through this initiative, WEConnect International has worked to bridge this gap—promoting impact sourcing and positioning women entrepreneurs as integral players in global supply chains.

The conference gathered more than 200 stakeholders, including women entrepreneurs, corporate executives, policymakers, and ecosystem partners from across South Asia. Together, they celebrated the project’s achievements and outlined strategies to strengthen the role of women in international trade.

Over the course of this three-year initiative, the project successfully transformed the business landscape for women across India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. More than 5,600 women-owned businesses (WOBs) gained access to global markets, supported by over 8,000 hours of training that directly benefited more than 2,100 women entrepreneurs. These investments translated into tangible opportunities, creating 4,000 new business connections and leading to over 100 business transactions between corporations and women-owned firms.

Elizabeth Vazquez, CEO & Co-Founder of WEConnect International, emphasised the transformative nature of this journey:“This conference is the culmination of a remarkable effort to demonstrate the power of women’s economic participation in trade. By connecting thousands of women-owned businesses with corporations and building their capacity to compete globally, we are not only empowering entrepreneurs but also reshaping supply chains to be more sustainable and resilient.”

Corporate engagement has been at the heart of the program. More than 500 new corporations were sensitised to the benefits of impact sourcing, with 225 companies actively participating in matchmaking sessions with WOBs, and 10 high-level corporate roundtables focused on impact sourcing strategies. This has created unprecedented opportunities for women entrepreneurs to integrate into corporate supply chains.

Highlighting the importance of government and ecosystem support, Prof. M.V. Rajeev Gowda, Former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Ex Professor, IIM Bangalore, noted: “Women entrepreneurs are central to India’s economic growth story. Initiatives like this unlock their potential to drive innovation, engage in cross-border trade, and contribute significantly to national and regional prosperity.”

The project fostered regional cooperation, forging 18 partnerships with leading associations and business chambers, and convening 22 major conferences and events that engaged over 2,000 participants. These efforts strengthened local business networks and created an enabling environment for women to succeed not just locally, but regionally and globally.