8th China South-Asia Business Forum (CSABF) and 1st CSABF Meeting on Women Entrepreneurs Cooperation

The 8th China-South Asia Business Forum (CSABF) took place in Kunming, capital of southwest Yunnan Province of China from June 5-8, 2013. The theme of CSABF was, “Regional Cooperation for Common Development”. More than 300 delegates from China and South Asian nations attended the three-day forum.

Along the sidelines of CSABF, for the first time the CSABF Meeting on Women Entrepreneurs Cooperation was held which had representation from leading business women and entrepreneurs from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and eight other South Asian countries who discussed issues regarding women’s regional business cooperation, employment promotion and entrepreneurship.

A 3-member delegation led by Ms Neeta Boochra, Vice President, FLO represented India at the Forum. The other members of the FLO delegation included Ms Rajyalakshmi Rao, Governing Member FLO and Dr Manju Kalra Prakash, Executive Director FLO. As a speaker, Dr Manju spoke on the Inter-regional economic and trade cooperation and exchanges among women entrepreneurs.

In her address, Ms Meng Xiaosi, Vice President and Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) said that women entrepreneurs in the region face problems such as a lack of preferential policies, management training resources and startup capital. As such, she said that she hopes women in China and South Asian countries will seize every opportunity to communicate and work together.

Ms Pramila Acharya Rijal, chairperson of SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneurs Council (SCWEC), said that the best way to promote regional economic development is to establish inter-regional economic and trade cooperation mechanisms that provide a platform for skilled women to work overseas.

Dr. Manju Kalra Prakash highlighted that establishment of good interpersonal relationships and networking platforms is the key to women’s entrepreneurship success and participation at regional forums goes a long way in enhancing collaboration.

Besides these there were speakers from Pakistan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Maldives, amongst others.

The organizers of the first China South Asia Exposition & CSABF 1st Meeting on Women Entrepreneurs Cooperation sought and requested continued participation, support and interaction with FLO and other participating Organisations at the South Asian Countries in the coming years too.

An MoU was also signed between SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneur Council (SCWEC) and Yunnan Provincial Women’s Federation on the occasion for continued collaboration in different areas.