Focus on home based businesses for war widows:

Women’s Chamber to forge links with Jaffna

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Members of Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) will go to Jaffna next month to forge business links and appraise the requirements of war widows.

They hope to develop home based businesses to sustain their families.

WCIC Chairperson Vidyani Hettigoda said now is the time to help those who have faced hardships during the war.

She requested support of all relevant parties and diplomats to strengthen their hands in the march towards Women’s empowerment in making a positive impact on poverty alleviation in the country.

She was speaking at an event organized to mark the Women’s International Day at the Hilton Colombo on Friday.

The event was organized jointly with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FCCISL).

Hettigoda said to reach and sustain economic prosperity and social stability, we must promote widespread economic growth, through training and education with the development of infrastructure and services.

She paid special tribute to migrant women workers, who have dared to risk their lives in alien lands in order to improve the living standards of their families, and bring the much needed foreign exchange into our country.

She said women world over face many challenges, as they are often the main family care givers, and the backbone of the family.

Statistics reveal, that on an average, a woman works 14 to 16 hours a day, while her male counterpart may work for only nine hours.

The birth of a child typically sees the woman sacrificing her job. The magic of multi-tasking, is indeed magic that only a woman can weave. This throws light on who women are, and what they are capable of, when given the opportunity,” she said.

The WCIC gives priority to link women, who own or operate businesses.

It provides opportunities for the development of their potential, promote a close professional and social union among members, and through their expertise and experiences, draw in more women into the mainstream business enterprise.

The WCIC also provides opportunities, for the exchange of ideas, participation in conferences, training programs and trade fairs, as well as the identification of new marketing strategies and outlets.