Women-run tiny businesses offer $11.4bn scope for fin institutions: IFC

These enterprises face numerous challenges, including inadequate access to capital, technology and information, and infrastructure gaps, says IMF study

Women-owned very small businesses (WVSEs) in India, with an estimated credit demand worth Rs 83,600 crore ($11.4 billion), need the strong support of financial institutions (FIs), as per the latest report from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), ‘Opportunities and Challenges of Women-Owned Very Small Enterprises in India’, enabled by Intellecap. This support will facilitate their growth and drive socio-economic inclusion by eliminating existing challenges.

Launched on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the report says WVSEs face numerous challenges, including inadequate access to capital, technology and information, and infrastructure gaps. There are about 15 million women-owned MSMEs in India, and contrary