Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Fibre Optic Network Ltd (KFON) entered a three-year partnership with Trivandrum Management Association (TMA) and Women Entrepreneurs Network (WEN) to strengthen digital access and business opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Kerala.The collaboration was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in connection with the observance of International Women’s Day. The initiative aims to support women-led start-ups and entrepreneur groups by expanding digital connectivity and improving access to technology-driven business tools. Under the agreement, women entrepreneur organisations and startups led by women will be provided high-speed internet connectivity through the KFON network. The partnership seeks to help them adopt digital technologies more effectively, enabling business expansion and greater participation in the digital economy. Another key component of the initiative is the strengthening of WEN’s exclusive She Team, which will be supported through KFON’s digital infrastructure to ensure reliable last-mile connectivity for women-led enterprises and networks. As part of the collaboration, a series of capacity-building programmes will also be conducted for entrepreneurs. Training sessions, workshops, seminars and awareness campaigns will focus on areas such as digital technologies, e-commerce, online marketing and cybersecurity. These programmes are expected to enhance the digital skills of women entrepreneurs and help them leverage online platforms for growth. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Santosh Babu, principal secretary and managing director of KFON, said the partnership would create new opportunities for women-led ventures. By leveraging the state’s digital infrastructure, the initiative aims to help women entrepreneurs scale their businesses and play a stronger role in economic development, he said. The MoU was signed at an event held at the TMA office in Thiruvananthapuram. The function was attended by TMA president S N Raghuchandran Nair and WEN president Resmi Maxim, along with officials and members of the participating organisations.
