CCWE Fashion Week and International Summit 2026 will bring together hundreds of women entrepreneurs, designers, investors, policymakers, and development partners in Colombo this July, marking the launch of South Asia’s first fashion week dedicated exclusively to women-led enterprises.
CCWE Fashion Week and International Summit 2026 to empower women entrepreneurs
Organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs (CCWE) in partnership with Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB), the four-day event will take place from 16 to 19 July 2026 at Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams. The initiative is expected to attract more than 400 women entrepreneurs representing all nine provinces of Sri Lanka, while also drawing regional stakeholders and international participants.
Held under the theme “Threads of Inclusion Woven Every Walk of Life,” the program is designed as a comprehensive platform that combines entrepreneurship, policy advocacy, capacity building, trade facilitation, and regional collaboration. Organisers say the initiative aims to improve market access, financial inclusion, and export opportunities for women entrepreneurs while strengthening South Asian business networks.
HNB has been named the Title Sponsor of the event, while the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia (ESCAP-SSWA) will serve as the Knowledge Partner.
CCWE President and Fashion Week Chairperson Dr. Ayanthi Gurusinghe described the initiative as a transformative movement rather than a traditional event. She said the summit reflects a broader effort to change how women entrepreneurs are recognised, supported, and integrated into Sri Lanka’s economic development agenda.
According to Dr. Gurusinghe, CCWE currently operates as a consortium of chambers across all nine provinces and represents nearly 10,000 members. The organisation also maintains regional affiliations through the South Asian Women Development Forum (SAWDF), enabling stronger regional engagement and policy advocacy on behalf of women-led businesses.
She highlighted the Chamber’s ongoing involvement in the French Government-supported FAME project, which currently supports 1,000 women entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka. The project focuses on identifying policy gaps and structural reforms needed to accelerate the growth of women-led enterprises.
“This is more than an event; it is a national movement that will transform the way we view women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka,” Dr. Gurusinghe said.
She noted that many entrepreneurs, particularly those operating in rural and emerging sectors, possess significant creative and commercial potential but often struggle to gain visibility and market access. The summit seeks to bridge that gap by connecting talent with enterprise opportunities, regional markets, and investment networks.
The opening day of the event will focus on networking and ecosystem engagement, bringing together between 400 and 500 entrepreneurs, designers, and private-sector representatives. Women-led enterprises from diverse industries will be showcased, providing opportunities for collaboration and exposure.
On the second day, the International Summit and South Asian Women Leaders Awards 2026 will take centre stage. Discussions will focus on entrepreneurship in the fashion industry, regional integration, and policy challenges affecting women-led businesses. Key topics are expected to include access to finance, digital transformation, trade barriers, and regulatory frameworks shaping entrepreneurship across South Asia.
The third day will feature training and capacity-building sessions supported by United Nations regional agencies. These programs will focus on export readiness, branding, digital skills, and enterprise development to help businesses strengthen their competitiveness in domestic and international markets.
Organisers also plan to adopt an inclusive approach to the fashion showcase, with trained community participants joining professional models on the runway. International designers, established industry figures, celebrity personalities, and leading models are also expected to participate, enhancing the event’s profile as a regional platform for entrepreneurship and creative industries.
The final day will culminate in a grand fashion showcase featuring Sri Lankan and South Asian designers. It will also host a South Asian Trade Show, aimed at helping entrepreneurs promote products, build regional business relationships, and explore export opportunities across neighbouring markets.
HNB Managing Director and CEO Damith Pallewatte described the initiative as part of a broader long-term effort to strengthen entrepreneurship and financial inclusion. He noted that HNB currently serves nearly 250,000 SME and microfinance businesses, with approximately 40% of them led by women entrepreneurs.
Pallewatte emphasized that supporting entrepreneurship extends beyond financing and includes financial literacy, digital connectivity, market access, and capacity development. He also highlighted the need for stronger policy support and institutional frameworks to ensure sustainable SME growth.
Regional organisations have also expressed strong support for the initiative. SAWDF President Premila Acharya described the summit as a landmark platform that brings together inclusion, opportunity, and equality, while ESCAP-SSWA Director Mikiko Tanaka highlighted the importance of strengthening women’s access to finance, markets, and digital networks.
As Sri Lanka continues to focus on inclusive economic growth, CCWE Fashion Week and International Summit 2026 is expected to become a significant platform for empowering entrepreneurs, strengthening regional partnerships, and expanding opportunities for women-led businesses across South Asia.