From Skills to Opportunity: Women Entrepreneurs Come Together in Chennai

For many women entrepreneurs, a small business begins with a simple idea: a product made at home, a skill passed down through generations, or a determination to build a better future for their families. But turning that idea into a growing business often requires access to technology, markets and the right support.

This week in Chennai, around 100 women entrepreneurs are taking an important step forward.

Led by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the two-day national training programme in digital transformation for women entrepreneurs brings together women from different communities and backgrounds, including women entrepreneurs with disabilities and 18 Sri Lankan Tamil from camps, who are participating.

The programme is organized in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, UNHCR, women associations (UBUNTU CONSOTIUM) and government partners. It has received strong support from the Department of Commerce, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Government e-Marketplace (GeM) of government of India, the Government of Tamil Nadu, DAKSHIN and other institutions.

Over two days (28-29 July), participants are learning how to use e-commerce, artificial intelligence, digital marketing and online government platforms to grow their businesses and reach new customers. They are also receiving practical guidance on export procedures, logistics and market access.

For ESCAP, the training is not only about introducing new tools. It is about helping women build confidence, connect with institutions and see new possibilities for their businesses.

Each participant arrives with a different story, but they share a common ambition: to create a more secure and independent future through entrepreneurship. By bringing women, government agencies, United Nations organizations and business networks together, the Chennai programme is helping turn that ambition into practical opportunity.

When women gain skills and access to markets, the benefits go far beyond one business. They strengthen families, create jobs and build more inclusive communities.