By Sitaram Mewati
In a significant initiative to strengthen women-led enterprises and integrate them into global trade, the All India Association of Industries (AIAI), in association with the World Trade Center Mumbai and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), hosted “Empowering Women, Empowering Business – From Grassroots to Export Markets.” The event brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, women entrepreneurs, and MSMEs to address gaps that prevent women-led businesses from scaling beyond local markets.
Shri Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of Marketing and Protocol, Maharashtra, highlighted the growing role of women in driving inclusive development across manufacturing, services, and agriculture. He said initiatives like Umed Malls under the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission provide women Self-Help Groups with permanent retail access, eliminating intermediaries and enabling direct market participation.
Dr. Vijay Kalantri, President of AIAI and Chairman of WTC Mumbai, noted that over 20% of MSMEs are now women-led, reflecting their increasing contribution to India’s economy. Shri Satya Narayan Meena, Additional CEO, GeM, emphasized the platform’s role in enabling over two lakh women-led enterprises to access government procurement directly, fostering growth and recognition.
Smt. Nidhi Choudhary, Director, National Gallery of Modern Art, pointed out that more than two crore MSMEs are owned by women, with nearly half of today’s startups having at least one woman director. Smt. Shwetali Thakare, Chairperson, Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority, stressed that women’s access to opportunities is crucial for India’s continued economic growth.
International perspectives were offered by Ms. Wang Awei, Deputy Consul General of China, who highlighted technology and e-commerce as transformative tools for women entrepreneurs globally. Speakers including Dr. Megha Phansalkar and Ms. Priya Pansare underscored that structured policy support, market access, and international linkages are essential to empower women-led enterprises.
The program concluded by emphasizing the need to move beyond participation to global competitiveness, demonstrating that aligning government initiatives, institutional support, and international collaboration can create a robust ecosystem for women entrepreneurs.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
