Odisha, August 11, 2017: Odisha government has found a novel idea to empower women by allowing them to do business through Facebook- #SheMeansBusiness, an e-business platform set up by a joint initiative of Facebook, MSME department of Odisha and Mission Shakti. The move is an indicator of the time when start-up revolution is changing entrepreneurship like never before.

The decision to encourage women to do business by using social media is a significant step by the state government to reinforce its business ecosystem and bolster women empowerment.

Women self help groups (SHGs) will now be able to sell their handcrafted products through #SheMeansBusiness.

It would help women exhibit their products across the country and worldwide and will also strengthen their socio-economic status. From 'Badi' made in Keonjhar and Ganjam to beautifully crafted 'Chandua' of Pipili, the platform will impel women to sell everything.

A workshop is being organized in the capital city to provide the necessary marketing and entrepreneurial skills to women.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stated at the inaugural program of the workshop, "This joint initiative by the government and Facebook is an innovative program to impart digital marketing skills to our women entrepreneurs particularly the SHGs. This can further strengthen the progress of our women and take their empowerment to a whole new level", mentioned Odhisatv.

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In the first phase over the next one year, the government intends to train and around 25,000 women with basic skills and information on technology, teamwork, transparency which will enable them to carry out business operations smoothly.

On the other hand, women self-help groups are hopeful about the unconventional method of business. "Once we open accounts in Facebook we will be trained to sell our products online and hope to do more business with it," said an SGH member.