The 2019 Google-Bain report estimated that women owned 13.5-15.7 million or 20% of all enterprises. Although the statistics does not put across a significant proportion but does somewhere underline the growing base of women owned businesses. Women-owned businesses enterprises are playing a prominent role in society inspiring others and generating more employment opportunities in the country. In this context World Trade Center Bhubaneswar’s Women Forum became a part of the Start-up Odisha initiatives being framed by the Government of Odisha. The Center was thus represented by its women forum in a virtual session by Start-up Odisha which aimed to discuss the pertinent issues being faced by the Women Entrepreneurs and the measures being taken in order to ease their path of doing business. The session also aimed to invite valuable suggestions from the stakeholders.

Mrs. Sanjukta Badhai, Evangelist, in her address spoke about the various initiatives being framed by the Government of Odisha specifically for Women led Start-Ups. She highlighted the recent financial grants which have been made available to these Start-ups and further spoke about the upcoming program “She Hub” of the Government of Odisha. She illustrated that the hub shall provide need based assistance to the women and would be covered under the “O Hub” program of the government which shall provide for physical infrastructure facilities as well as facilitate incubation support as well.

Mrs. Jyoshna Das, Founder, Bivabari and Convenor of the WTC Bhubaneswar Women Forum in her deliberation made a detailed presentation on the various initiatives undertaken so far by the forum. She highlighted on certain vital assistance and facilitation services being provided by the forum to the women entrepreneurs registered under WTC Bhubaneswar. She spoke on how the women entrepreneurs with the assistance of WTC can connect to global platforms, network internationally and participate in global exhibitions. She further urged the attending women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the forum for creating effective market linkages both nationally and internationally. She also proposed vital suggestions to the Start-Up Odisha for effective handholding of women led start-ups and offered all feasible support to them by WTC Bhubaneswar Women Forum.

Other members from the industry including  Ms. Jayashree Mohanty, Member Startup Taskforce & Chairwoman, CII- IWN (Odisha Chapter), Ms. Jayashree Mohanty, Member Startup Taskforce & Chairwoman, CII- IWN Odisha Chapter, Ms. Sukirti Patnaik, Convenor, IWEC , Bhubaneswar also spoke about the initiatives for women empowerment undertaken by their respective organizations.