Women-owned businesses (WOBs) in India and South Asia are stepping up efforts to secure a greater role in global supply chains, amid shifting trade dynamics driven by geopolitics and digital disruption.
At the South Asia Summit hosted by WEConnect International this week at the World Trade Centre, Mumbai, hundreds of women entrepreneurs and procurement leaders gathered for a day of keynotes, networking, and business matchmaking.
“We’ve seen a growing demand for products and services from Indian women-owned businesses, but they remain largely invisible in global supply chains. That’s a market failure we are committed to fixing,” said Elizabeth A Vazquez, CEO and Co-Founder of WEConnect International, a global non-profit linking women-owned businesses with qualified buyers.
Women’s role in business
While women own nearly 33% of privately held businesses and influence over 80% of consumer spending globally, their share of corporate procurement is less than 1%. WEConnect is working to bridge this gap through capacity building, improved access to capital, and direct engagement with global buyers.
Overcoming barriers through technology and support
Vazquez urged women entrepreneurs to embrace and shape emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, calling its adoption “an urgent imperative.” The summit showcased WOB successes in sectors including technology, textiles, agriculture, and business services, and stressed that inclusive sourcing is a business advantage in today’s evolving economy.
“Leaving women out of supply chains is not just unfair—it’s bad business,” Vazquez said. “Our job is to unlock value hidden in plain sight.”
According to a report by OECD, the global movement to address women’s underrepresentation in supply chains is gaining momentum. Best practices suggest moving beyond capacity-building for women alone, instead advocating for systemic change and inclusive policy design within corporations and governments. Building ecosystems that make financial, networking, and learning resources accessible is essential for women entrepreneurs to thrive in global supply chains.