‘We Rise’ Initiative to Help Indian Women-Led MSMEs Go Global

The NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and DP World have launched a major programme titled ‘We Rise: Women Entrepreneurs Reimagining Inclusive and Sustainable Enterprises’. This initiative aims to help Indian women-led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) expand globally. It focuses on trade facilitation, mentorship, and strategic partnerships to boost women entrepreneurs’ international market access.

Recent Initiative and Partnership

The ‘We Rise’ programme is part of WEP’s Award to Reward (ATR) initiative. It was formalised through a Statement of Intent signed by Ms Anna Roy, Mission Director of WEP, in the presence of Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog. DP World brings its global logistics and trade expertise to support 100 selected women entrepreneurs. The collaboration aims to enhance export readiness and strengthen business capacities.

Programme Objectives and Support Mechanisms

The initiative targets high-growth potential women-led MSMEs across India. It offers mentorship and curated interventions to help these enterprises meet global trade standards. DP World will provide access to its global logistics network. Selected entrepreneurs will also showcase products at Bharat Mart in Dubai, a key international marketplace in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, connecting them to global buyers.

Role of Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)

WEP was incubated by NITI Aayog in 2018 and became a public-private partnership in 2022. It acts as a national aggregator to strengthen India’s women entrepreneurship ecosystem. WEP addresses six ecosystem needs – access to finance, market linkages, training and skilling, mentoring and networking, compliance and legal assistance, and business development services. It currently engages over 90,000 women entrepreneurs and partners with 47 organisations.

Award to Reward (ATR) Initiative

Launched in 2023, ATR institutionalises WEP’s partnership framework. It brings together stakeholders to address specific challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. ATR promotes scalable collaborations and celebrates women’s entrepreneurial success. ‘We Rise’ is a flagship ATR programme focusing on expanding trade access and global growth opportunities.

Significance and Impact

The partnership reflects a commitment to inclusive trade and women-led economic growth. It aligns with the Government of India’s vision to create an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs. The collaboration leverages DP World’s supply chain expertise and WEP’s ecosystem support to drive long-term impact and sustainable enterprise development.