Prime Highlights:
- Smriti Irani highlighted India’s progress in women-led businesses, sharing that over 1 lakh women-owned enterprises have been supported through the Alliance for Global Good.
- A major Rs 350 crore investment was announced for women’s health, brain health, hormonal health, and bone health, marking a historic step for women’s wellness and traditional medicine systems like Ayush.
Key Facts:
- The Alliance for Global Good has helped women entrepreneurs across 300 cities in India, providing opportunities for small business growth.
- WIN, a global non-profit platform, will host its second edition at the World Economic Forum Week, featuring top Indian women leaders from business, finance, policy, tech, media, and innovation.
Background:
Smriti Irani, former Union Minister and Chairperson of the Alliance for Global Good, highlighted India’s progress in women-led businesses at the World Economic Forum this week. She said the Alliance has supported over one lakh women-owned businesses across India, helping women entrepreneurs grow in different sectors.
Emphasizing the need for institutional support, Irani said, “We hope that commercial investments and institutional funding reach these women, particularly those running small businesses, across India’s 300 cities. Our aim is to ensure that these enterprises receive the equity they need to grow, which in turn strengthens the broader economy.”
Irani also highlighted the significance of Davos as a platform where 3,000 global leaders, including 850 CEOs and heads of state, converge to discuss issues ranging from technology and the future of work to sustainability and inclusion. “Women’s rights have been discussed for a long time,” she said. “I believe that when women-led businesses get support and funding, the economy grows.”
In a landmark announcement, Rs 350 crore was allocated for initiatives supporting women’s health, brain health, hormonal health, and bone health. Irani noted the transformative impact of such investments, sharing success stories like a woman entrepreneur who began with Rs 1 lakh and now leads a business valued at Rs 80 crore. “Just yesterday, a young woman prepared to take charge of a major investment in Ayush, showing how women are finding more opportunities in traditional medicine,” she said.
Smriti Irani also took part in the Women Inspiring Network (WIN) Lounge, highlighting India’s growing role in global discussions on equality, inclusion, and social impact. WIN will hold its second event at the World Economic Forum, featuring top Indian women leaders.
This shows India’s growing role in women-led businesses and economic growth.
