“Networking and collaboration among women entrepreneurs from the International South and East Asian region plays a pivotal role in gainful sharing of best practices and know-how of successful ventures.”

Goal and Specific Objectives
Activities
Expected Outcomes

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry - Women Entrepreneurs Development Committee (FNCCI WEDC), Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs’ Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) and Fair Trade Group Nepal (FTG Nepal) is working towards the development of women by organizing a Mega Event from 8-11 March 2010 in Kathmandu Nepal on the occasion of “100th International Women’s Day”. The event will focus on women's strength and ingenuity from the South- East Asian and other regions.

Goal and Specific Objectives
The event seeks to contribute to Millennium Development Goals 1, 3, 5 & 8

Specifically, the event seeks to:
• increase the production capacity of women
• increase market share, and
• increase visibility of women and SME based economic agenda within Women’s Human Rights movement
• increase awareness and visibility of Fair Trade

Activities / Strategy of implementations
The mega event will bring together women entrepreneurs and activists from SAARC and other countries, participating in the International SMEs Business Meet. The Meet will include the International SME’s Trade Fair and Skill Exchange Workshop between different artisans from the South and East Asian Countries. The meet will also include an Interaction Program with inspirational role model and social activist Dr. Kiran Bedi, who has made an outstanding contribution to society and has experience of activism for women’s human rights. Extensive invitations are also being sent to international buyers. The meet will conclude with a SAARC Level Women Entrepreneurs’ Kathmandu Joint Declaration. The theme for the event will be “Equal rights, Equal opportunities: Progress for all”.

1. International Women SME’s Business Meet: Trade Fair
8th March 2010: Inauguration
9th – 11th March 2010: Trade Fair open to visitors
Venue: Bhrikuti Mandap

The exhibition will showcase products using traditional skills, focusing not only on Nepalese craftsmanship but also on South Asian skills for growth and economic empowerment. Products exhibited will include textile, handicrafts, agro based products, non timber forest products, and tourism sector. The Trade Fair will be inaugurated by the Honorable Prime Minister of Nepal Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal.

2. Talk Program
Date: 9th March 2010: Inauguration
Venue: Hotel Del Annapurna

A keynote speech by Dr. Kiran Bedi followed by an interaction session will be organized with Kiran Bedi, Ph.D, India’s first and highest police ranking (retired in 2007) woman officer with more than 35 years experience on crime prevention, drug abuse, police and prison reforms and women’s issues.

She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award (also called the Asian Nobel Prize), and several other decorations. She is the founder of two NGOs, Navjyoti and India Vision Foundation, which reach out to over 10,000 beneficiaries daily. Dr. Bedi is an author of several books, is a regular columnist and is anchoring a highly popular television show on domestic affairs. She is a sought after speaker on social, professional and leadership issues. Dr. Kiran Bedi has been voted as India's most admired woman and fifth amongst all Indians. The talk program will have 350 guests with the chief guest for the event being the Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal Ms. Sujata Koirala.

3. Skills Exchange Workshop
9th – 11th March 2010
Venue: Bhrikuti Mandap

A Skills exchange workshops will be organized simultaneously with the trade fair. This common platform will be an exchange of skills among artisans from the south Asian countries. The workshops will have interactive sessions and also promote sharing of new ideas on product development. The event will be inaugurated by the Minister of Women, Children and Social Welfare. The chief guest of the Closing Ceremony will be the Secretary of Ministry of Industry.

4. A Special Publication
11th March 2010
Venue: Bhrikuti Mandap

On the occasion, a special publication will also be published. The publication will include articles from experts and outstanding women leaders whose efforts have advanced the economic empowerment of women around the region on: inclusive business, responsible consumerism, SME issues, eco-friendly production, market trends etc.
It will contain about 50 pages. Discussion with reputed publication house is going on to circulate this publication with their women focused magazine.

5. Kathmandu Joint Declaration
9th March 2010
Venue: Hotel Del Annapurna

A Session on Kathmandu Joint Declaration will be held among Women Business Leaders from different organizations in the South and East Asian Region.

The Conclave will see the congregation of women business delegations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The session will deliberate on the following issues.
- Enhance partnerships and networking of women entrepreneurs from SAARC member-countries.
- Drawing Strength from the SAARC countries and interlinking women entrepreneur's business to    business.
- One favorable policy for SME’s of the South Asian women entrepreneur organizations.

Upon the finalization of the Kathmandu Declaration, based on the above issues, each organization from each country will immediately begin a dialogue with policymaker to implement above issues. The progress report will be shared among the women business leaders from different organizations.

Expected Outcomes
• Building of market linkages between SMEs, women, marginalized entrepreneurs & producers to    other actors in supply chain - New trading opportunities
• Skill Promotion of women and marginalized entrepreneurs & producers
• Establishment of trading and non trading partnerships among women and entrepreneurs and    producers
• Opportunities of outsourcing of new/unique raw materials (such as handmade paper, herbs,     natural fiber, organic products and hand woven yarns with traditional designs)
• Visibility of women and SME based economic agenda within Women’s Human Rights movement,    enhancing advocacy initiatives.
• Increased awareness of Fair Trade

THE SME’S BUSINESS MEET TRADE FAIR IS ORGANISED IN CO-OPERATION WITH