Truvalu Organized a Gender Lens Investing Panel Discussion in Collaboration with Biniyog Briddhi

Panel discussion on Gender Lens Investing involving Sharawwat Islam, Managing Director at Truvalu.enterprises Ltd. (Bangladesh); Bijon Islam, CEO of LightCastle Partners; Syed Javed Noor, Partner at IDLC VC Fund and Deputy Managing Director of IDLC Finance Limited and Humaira Azam, Managing Director & CEO of Trust Bank Limited

As a celebration of Women’s Day 2023, Truvalu organized an informative seminar on “Opportunities and Prospects for Gender Lens Investing in Bangladesh” in March 2023, in collaboration with Biniyog Briddhi and with support from the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh. 

The seminar featured a panel discussion with industry experts, including Humaira Azam, Managing Director & CEO of Trust Bank Limited; Syed Javed Noor, partner at IDLC VC Fund and Deputy Managing Director of IDLC Finance Limited; Bijon Islam, CEO of LightCastle Partners and Maxime Cheng, Impact Intelligence and Education Lead at Roots of Impact.

During the panel discussion, the panelists shared valuable insights and experiences on how gender inclusion can be integrated into the local ecosystem in Bangladesh. They shed light on challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and the potential pathways to address those bottlenecks. The discussion was also centered around practices that can enable a more inclusive and equitable business environment in Bangladesh. 

The event also captured insightful perspectives from dignitaries like Corinne Henchoz Pignani, Deputy Head of Cooperation at The Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh; Sana Kapadia, social entrepreneur and gender lens investor and Machteld Ooijens, Director of Partnerships and Programs at Truvalu Global.

Corinne Henchoz Pignani, Deputy Head of Cooperation of the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, highlighted how considering gender dimensions better inform investment decisions, advances gender equality, presents a clear win-win for all, and adds USD 3 trillion to the annual global GDP. 

To be part of this growing impact investing ecosystem in Bangladesh, stay tuned to www.sie-b.org!

Biniyog Briddhi is a multi-year program, supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh and implemented by Roots of Impact and LightCastle Partners. Set up as a public-private development partnership (PPDP), the programme strives to improve the financial, social, and environmental performance of impact enterprises by helping them to master investment readiness and impact management and get ready to access innovative finance to scale.