An international start-up corridor, specifically designed for women, was inaugurated in the city on Sunday.
Located in the financial district of Gachibowli, its launch saw around 180 women entrepreneurs from 24 countries taking part in the event. The biggest delegation was led by Ahlam Yousif Janahi, the president of Bahrain Business Women’s Society.
“The International Women Start-up Corridor (IWSC) is expected to help aspiring women entrepreneurs to systematically reach a platform to transfer knowledge on various aspects,” said Asif Iqbal, the President of Indian Economic Trade Organisation (IETO), who was present at the inauguration.
The start-up corridor would work in collaboration with Bahrain, a partner country, and the Bahrain Business Women’s Society. “With 45 high net worth investors and businesses, the IWSC will be a focal point of exchange,” said Dr. Iqbal, adding that the stable government in Telangana was the main driving factor for these international investors to think of investing here.
“With the government’s progressive approach towards new businesses, Hyderabad is the most appropriate city to have the corridor for women start-ups” said Dr. Iqbal.
“My goal is to build bilateral relations between the women in India and those in Arab,” said Vijaya Saraswati, director of IWSC Hyderabad centre.
Discussing challenges
Some of the countries whose women would be a part of the IWSC are Japan, Indonesia, Morocco, Bahrain, Oman, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Nepal, Djibouti and Russia. The corridor would regularly have round table conferences that discuss various challenges that women entrepreneurs face. It would provide entrepreneurs with mentoring, networking opportunities, legal and compliance support, office infrastructure and financial assistance.
Speaking at the event, Sumaira Sarib Rasool Khan, director of Shadan Institutions and Dr. VRK Women’s Medical College, said more women should contribute to the field of education, while Ayala Devi, an entrepreneur from Indonesia, called upon women to participate in the field of technology.
Monavar Hakum Ali from Bangladesh, who is the first woman member in business chamber of commerce in Bangladesh, was also present.
