Women’s Day 2024: Global summit spotlights women entrepreneurs in India

As per the World Bank’s latest India Development Update (IDU), India continues to show resilience against the backdrop of a challenging global environment.

The country’s thriving growth in pivotal sectors such as IT, Pharma, and Semiconductors is poised for unprecedented expansion. There is an urgent need to integrate a strategy for inclusivity into the very fabric of this trajectory.

In February, the “Empowering Inclusion-Advancing Sustainable Value Chains Summits” took place in India. Elizabeth A Vazquez, CEO & Co-Founder of WEConnect International, a member-led, global non-profit that brings together large corporate, multilateral, and government buyers with qualified women-owned suppliers worldwide, was in the country for the summit.

India Today had the opportunity to have a conversation with her on the topic of ‘supporting women entrepreneurs and businesses in the Indian scenario’.

Question 1: What has been the response from women entrepreneurs from the three cities summit that concluded with the Bengaluru sessions?

What are some interesting insights? So, all three cities had women and businesses that were represented from all industry sectors, and I think that was what was most fascinating. You had some of the traditional women and businesses who are artisans, who are in various business services, like owning a law firm or an accounting firm.

We also have a lot of women in manufacturing, and women in tech, and so I love the shift that we’re seeing with women going into more non-traditional sectors, even women in construction.

So, I was very inspired. Feedback from them was that they were very inspired and hopeful because they met a lot of actual buyers who were looking to buy products and services from them. And so, I think that gives a lot of validation and a lot of encouragement.