Kathmandu, March 8

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, a letter of intent (LoI) was signed between South Asian Women Development Forum (SAWDF) and ICIMOD, regarding a study and booklet on ‘Policies for Women SMEs in South Asia’, a collaborative venture of SAWDF and ICIMOD.

The LoI was signed between Pramila Acharya Rijal, president of SAWDF and David Molden, director general of ICIMOD, according to a media release.

The booklet is designed to examine the opportunities and constraints of the SMEs policies relating to women entrepreneurs and to identify the best policies that have enabled the women SMEs to expand their enterprises along with creating new ones. The study of the booklet on the ‘Policies for women SMEs in South Asia’ will be done in 10 countries which will include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China and Myanmar.

The assimilation of policies for women SMEs will be coordinated by South Asian Women

Development Forum with inputs from SAWDF chapters in the SAARC region, SAWDF, with a SAARC recognised body status, is a member-based regional organisation, representing national women entrepreneurs’ associations/organisations working towards the socio-economic issues in the SAARC region.

The information will be disseminated with the support of the related ministries of each country in Asia.