WEConnect International, in partnership with the United States Department of State, hosted the Sri Lanka Sustainable Trade and Economic Summit 2025 today at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo. This high-level gathering convened more than 200+ key stakeholders, including women business owners, corporate leaders, government officials, and trade experts to accelerate economic growth through enterprise development and international business collaboration.

The Summit featured policy dialogues, business matchmaking, and success stories of entrepreneurs who have grown their enterprises through trade. A central theme was unlocking new avenues for Sri Lankan small businesses to scale and participate in cross-border commerce.

Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman, Export Development Board, Sri Lanka, noted during his address at the Summit, “This is not just a Summit — it is a movement to elevate Sri Lankan entrepreneurship. Women-owned businesses are essential to our national recovery and long-term competitiveness.”

This Summit follows the successful rollout of WEConnect International’s “Power of Access” Roadshows, held earlier this year in Colombo and Kandy in May of 2025. These events offered a robust platform for over 150 women entrepreneurs and corporations to engage, exchange strategies, and form valuable business connections. The momentum continues with the third Roadshow scheduled for August 9, 2025, in Galle, designed to extend outreach to southern Sri Lanka.

Elizabeth A. Vazquez, CEO and Co-Founder of WEConnect International, stated during her special remarks, “Behind every measurement of impact is a woman who made the leap to scale her business, hire more people, and serve broader markets. Today, we celebrate those achievements and reinforce our belief that access to opportunity must never be a privilege — it must be a right.”

Why This Matters for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is home to over 230,000 women-led businesses, representing approximately 20% of the SME sector. These entrepreneurs play a crucial role in post-crisis economic resilience by generating jobs, innovating products and services, and reinvesting in their communities and families.

By connecting Sri Lankan businesses with regional and global supply chains, the Summit contributes to job creation, stronger local economies, and a more stable and predictable environment for international commerce. The Summit Trade Show was officially inaugurated at One Galle Face Mall, offering a public-facing showcase of Sri Lankan innovation and business talent.

As the Summit concludes, the path forward is clear: strategic partnerships, access to markets, and enterprise growth must continue to be priorities in Sri Lanka’s development agenda. This collaborative platform strengthens U.S and Multinational corporation alliances and supports the vision of a connected, resilient South Asia.