In order to promote a balanced growth in the country there is need for sustainable growth of women entrepreneurs. A change in the demographic characteristics of business and economic growth of the country is evident with the increasing presence of women as entrepreneurs. Women-owned businesses enterprises are playing a prominent role in society inspiring others and generating more employment opportunities in the country. Programs such as Startup India a vital step towards strengthening the women entrepreneurship ecosystem, through policies and initiatives, and creation of enabling networks. In the series of handholding the Start-ups World Trade Center Bhubaneswar and Start-up Odisha organized a B2B initiative for women led start-ups and SHG’s. The session focused on the SHG’s under the Mission Shakti program of the Government of Odisha as well as the women led start-ups registered under the Start-up Odisha program.

The session provided an opportunity for the Start-ups and SHG’s to have an interaction wherein they exchanged information about their innovative products and services there by creating an opportunity for B2B transactions to take place.

Further Mr. Sudhanshu Pradhan, GeM Business Facilitator-Odisha also took a session where he made a presentation explaining the fundamentals of GeM where he explained in detail about registration and tender participation process through GeM portal. He further deliberated on Womaniya (GeM portal for Women) which informs procurement officers in various government ministries, departments and CPSEs about the drive to promote procurement of common use goods and services from women entrepreneurs. He shared that products like handicrafts and handloom, accessories, jute and coir products, home décor and office furnishings are categorized for ease-in-procurement. Explaining about Womaniya on GeM he shared that it aligns with Government’s initiatives for MSMEs, especially to reserve 3 percent in government procurement from women entrepreneurs. It further spur hyper-local economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs and address goals and objectives under United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Earlier Mrs. Sanjukta Badhai, Evangelist, Start-up Odisha in her welcome address spoke about special benefits extended by Start-up Odisha for women led start-ups. She also shared that out of the more than 1000 start-ups registered under the program more than thirty five percent were women led start- ups. She also shared the State Governments focus on encouraging women led start-ups for which both seed funding and financial aid is being facilitated by the agency.

Mrs. Nimeshika Natarajan, Assistant Director, World Trade Center Bhubaneswar proposed the vote of thanks.