India Calls On BRICS Countries To Expand Opportunities For Women-Led Enterprises In Global Trade

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has called on BRICS countries to work together to expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs and women-led enterprises in international trade. Addressing the BRICS WBA Women-Led Development Conference in New Delhi yesterday, Mr Goyal stressed the need for easier access to credit and markets, along with predictable business rules.

The Commerce Minister said India is focused on empowering women through financial inclusion, education, skills and improved quality of life, with the aim of making them drivers of the country’s growth. He noted that nearly 300 million women in India have bank accounts, while collateral-free loans are provided to women seeking to start their own work, including those without a credit history.

Mr Goyal also said around 100 million rural women are members of over nine million self-help groups under the ‘Lakhpati Didis’ initiative, aimed at ensuring women’s economic independence and greater contribution to India’s growth.

Mr Goyal also urged governments to encourage women-owned enterprises to participate more actively in international expositions, conferences, seminars, exhibitions and business forums. Calling for greater engagement among BRICS countries, the minister said dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward towards a more prosperous future for member countries, partner countries and the world. He also highlighted that India has set a target of growing from a four trillion dollar economy today to a thirty trillion dollar economy by 2047, when the country celebrates 100 years of Independence.