Women entrepreneurship is vibrant, new trend

HYDERABAD:  AS curtains rolled down on the 3-day of GES 2017, participants had two key takeaways. One, the culture of entrepreneurship is kicking and alive, not just in developed nations like the US, but also in emerging economies, be it Nigeria, Kenya or Qatar. Two, the trend of women entrepreneurship too is vibrant, but need efforts both from governments and the private sector (like bridging wage gaps) to take it to the next level.

That women entrepreneurship, which was the underlying theme of this year’s summit, is picking pace can be further corroborated by some of the facts put out by Niti Aayog, which co-hosted the event along with the US State Department. Of the 1,500-odd delegates, 33 per cent of all women participants are under 30. “The event will further give a fillip to entrepreneurship,” said Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog, adding, “Hyderabad is the new Silicon Valley of the world.”

Meanwhile, speaking at the closing plenary,Lerato Motsamai, Founder & CEO, Petrolink, said, “Women don’t build businesses, they build nations. Many of the women are not seen as a role model because of the community they come from, she points out while highlighting the role of culture in nourishing women entrepreneurship.” Meanwhile, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) also unveiled a slew of initiatives to support women in India including launch of a $2.25 million health impact bond, $1 million to create awareness about TB and another $1.5 million for Women Connect initiatives.