Women Entrepreneurs in Asia and the Pacific

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN ASIA & THE PACIFIC WOMEN MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF THE POPULATION IN ASIA THE ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMY WOULD EARN AN ADDITIONAL $89 BILLION ANNUALLY IF WOMEN WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE FULL ECONOMIC POTENTIAL - UN estimates Women play a key role in innovative economic development and business expansion in Asia and the Pacific. What are the challenges and opportunities they face? THE GOOD THE BAD I GROWING AND GROWING | SOUTH ASIA LAGGING FORMAL SMALL & MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES OWNED BY WOMEN 8% 38% to to In East Asia, there are NEARLY 6 MILLION formal, women-owned small businesses Women-owned businesses are 47% INCREASING & GROWING AT A FAST RATE in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam South Asia East Asia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe | BUILDING A SKILLED WORKFORCE I WOMEN AND EDUCATION 10 People's Republic of China IN INDONESIA, received technical & vocational training in 80 90 100 48.000 GIRLS Computer science, business, and tourism & hospitality courses I Percentage of highly educated female entrepreneurs 2011 DATA FROM 40 MODEL SCHOOLS SHOW... Malaysia 10,142 41% 12% I Percentage of highly educated female population CEO Japan female graduates were employed started own business | ACCESS TO LOANS INEQUALITY IN APPLYING FOR CREDIT In the PRC*, women often must SHOW THEIR HUSBANDS' IDENTITY CARDS to apply for credit IN TAJIKISTAN, ABOUT 42% 0f the loans under ADB's microfinance project were provided to women ACCESS TO THESE LOANS RESULTED IN... In the Philippines, women often must HAVE THEIR HUSBANDS' SIGNATURES on loan documents engagement in entrepreneurial activities increased incomes broadened income sources *PRC = People's Republic of China I OVERCOMING BARRIERS LEADING SMALLER ENTERPRISES New legislations & regulations being introduced in the Pacific are helping women entrepreneurs OVERCOME BARRIERS TO SETTING UP BUSINESSES AND ACCESSING CREDIT IN LAO PDR. of female entrepreneurs own 63% small & medium-sized businesses, BUT THOSE OWNED BY MEN TEND TO BE LARGER SOURCE ADB Asian Development Bank • 12 Things on Asian Women Entrepreneurs. http://www.adb.org/features/women-entrepreneurs-asia-and-pacific FIGHTING POVERTY IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC wwW.ADB.ORG