The South Asian Women Development Forum (SAWDF) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to conduct a study on policies for women small and medium entrepreneurs in South Asia.

SAWDF President Pramila Acharya Rijal and ICIMOD Director General David Molden signed the letter of intent on behalf of their respective organisations. 

After the study is complete, a booklet will also be published. “The study will examine opportunities and constraints for women entrepreneurs engaged with small and medium enterprises and recommend best policies that would enable women to expand their enterprises along with creating new ones,” says a press statement. 

The study will be conducted in 10 countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China and Myanmar. The findings of the study will be disseminated with the support of related ministries in each country where surveys were conducted. 

The SAWDF is a member-based regional organisation, representing national women entrepreneurs’ associations and organizations working on socio-economic issues in South Asia.