Japan & UN Women Collaborate to Strengthen Economic Resilience of Women Entrepreneurs

• Kamoshida Naoaki, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan, visited women entrepreneurs in Mannar District.
• The visit is part of the 'Pathways to Peace' project supporting women's economic empowerment in Sri Lanka

In its tireless work to support women's economic empowerment, Minister/Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka, Kamoshida Naoaki, made a visit to Mannar District to meet with women entrepreneurs. The businesses have received support under the 'Pathways to Peace' project meant for implementing the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security in Sri Lanka.

The 'Pathways to Peace' project was a significant collaboration between UN Women, Chrysalis, and the Government of Japan, which has made very good strides in developing women-led businesses in conflict-affected areas-an example in this being Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Mannar, and Mullaitivu. Japan's impressive contribution of about $1.7 million has enabled around 500 women entrepreneurs to improve their skills through training in business planning, financial literacy, and product innovation. Such targeted programming has helped refine business models to improve market access and sustainable practice through transfer technology.

At the event, Kamoshida stated "By equipping women with the necessary skills and unlocking their potential, we can bring transformational changes that permeate boundaries into whole communities and will lead them toward economic prosperity. Japan will continue to empower women and support their sustainable inclusive development."

It further attaches itself to the bigger Japanese commitment to gender equality and inclusive development as in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. It helps the project to promote not only economic empowerment but also sustainable peace and development in Sri Lanka.