The Global Entrepreneur Summit (GES) 2017 in Hyderabad, India recently, tried to shine light on the issues facing women around the world and it focussed on creating new tools to help support and launch women entrepreneurs.
Women make up half of the world’s population and at least half of the world’s economic potential.
“With the needs and challenges facing the world today, we need to turn to every part of our society for the leadership we need. And women have been overlooked for far too long and they have been the untapped power for far too long,” were USAID Administrator Mark Green’s remarks at the GES closing reception.
The Summit co-organised by the governments of the US and India, put the spotlight on developing women-led entrepreneurs and the theme of the ‘Women First; Prosperity for All’. It was opened by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and entrepreneur and President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump.
“In many ways, our very future depends upon ensuring that women have the tools and the opportunities that give them and us a real chance to thrive; because that will lead to a powerful wave of innovation and economic energy. My request to all of you as you head back home and return to your daily lives: Please keep the challenges facing women entrepreneurs at the front of your mind. It could mean helping us to take steps to finally bridge the gender digital divide,” Green said.
It could mean mentoring a promising female entrepreneur somewhere; It could mean making a real determined push to recruit more women, hire more women, promote more women.
It could mean working to change laws and regulations in cities and countries that unintentionally hold women entrepreneurs back. All of this of course is merely scratching the surface. But everyone should be aware what it means to empower women entrepreneurs. This year’s summit was a gathering of hundreds of budding, ambitious and well-known entrepreneurs as well as investors and supporters of the start-up eco-system.
The eighth edition of the GES, which came came to South Asia for the first time, served as a forum to celebrate and nurture entrepreneurship and provide opportunities to network.
The Sunday Observer was able to talk to several young entrepreneurs during the summit.