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India has launched a major initiative to strengthen women-led entrepreneurship and boost their participation in global trade. NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), in partnership with DP World, has introduced the ‘We Rise’ – Women Entrepreneurs Reimagining Inclusive and Sustainable Enterprisesprogramme. This initiative aligns with the Government of India’s vision of women-led development and is a part of WEP’s Award to Reward (ATR) framework.

Key Objectives and Features

• Purpose: To support women entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses globally
• Focus Areas:
  • Trade facilitation
  • Mentorship and business capacity-building
  • Strategic partnerships and global market access
• Target Group: High-potential women-led MSMEs, particularly product-centric enterprises
• Coverage:100 women entrepreneurs will be selected for export-readiness programmes
• Global Exposure: Participants will showcase products at Bharat Mart in Dubai (Jebel Ali Free Zone), gaining access to international B2B and B2C markets

DP World will leverage its global supply chain expertise and logistics network to build export capabilities for women-led businesses, ensuring they meet international trade standards.

Strategic Significance

This initiative strengthens India’s women entrepreneurship ecosystem by providing:

• Access to finance and global markets
• Training, skill development, and compliance support
• Mentorship, networking, and business development services

It reinforces the importance of public-private collaboration in accelerating women's economic empowerment and building a more inclusive trade ecosystem.

Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) Overview

• Established: 2018 by NITI Aayog; transitioned to PPP mode in 2022
• Engagement: Over 90,000 women entrepreneurs and 47 partners
• Mandate: Acts as a national aggregator and enabler to strengthen women-led businesses
• Core Functions: Addresses six ecosystem needs —
  1. Access to finance
  2. Market linkages
  3. Training & skilling
  4. Mentorship & networking
  5. Legal & compliance assistance
  6. Business development services

ATR Initiative

Launched in 2023, the Award to Reward (ATR) model institutionalises partnerships by celebrating women entrepreneurs and fostering scalable, outcome-driven collaborations.