Innovision Consulting, in collaboration with The World Bank and SME Foundation, successfully organized the “Corporate Connect: EmpowerLink Expo: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Connections” on December 23–24, 2024. This landmark event aimed to bridge the gap between corporate buyers and women entrepreneurs, fostering opportunities for market access and supplier diversity.
Held at the Parjatan Bhaban in Agargaon, the expo showcased the products of 50 women entrepreneurs from across Bangladesh. These entrepreneurs, trained under the We-Fi project through programs conducted by Innovision Consulting, North South University, and LightCastle Partners, demonstrated their capabilities in business development, export readiness, and corporate engagement.
Over the two-day event, corporate buyers from 100 organizations and fashion houses evaluated boutique items, jute products, leather goods, handicrafts, ornaments, and agro-processed goods. These evaluations focused on quality, design, production capacity, and cost-effectiveness. Entrepreneurs expressed enthusiasm about this unique opportunity to directly engage with corporate buyers, enabling them to demonstrate their products and build connections.
The expo was inaugurated by distinguished guests, including Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, Managing Director of SME Foundation; Hosna Ferdous Sumi, Senior Private Sector Specialist of The World Bank Group; Farzana Khan, General Manager of SME Foundation; Md. Rubaiyath Sarwar, Managing Director of Innovision Consulting; and Mohammad Nazmul Ahsan, Project Manager of Innovision Consulting.
This initiative represents Innovision Consulting’s commitment to integrating women entrepreneurs into corporate supply chains, both domestically and internationally. Through the SMEF Suppliers Platform and targeted capacity-building programs, Innovision continues to empower women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and drive economic growth.