By the US State Department
The U.S. Embassy joined the U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council and Paklaunch to celebrate Women-Led Start-up Competition finalists. [State Department photo]
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, observed annually on November 19th, is a global initiative spearheaded by the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO). The group celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2023. The theme for this year, encapsulated by the hashtag #WEDO, highlights the pivotal role women entrepreneurs play in effecting positive change. The movement focuses on celebrating, supporting, and empowering women and girls globally. By championing women entrepreneurs, Women’s Entrepreneurship Day aspires to foster a more equitable, inclusive, and prosperous future, emphasizing gender equity and equality, financial inclusion, and the potential of entrepreneurship to transcend barriers.
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is not only a celebration, but also a reflection of the values outlined in the U.S. Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security. This strategic framework envisions a world where all women and girls can contribute to and reap the rewards of global economic growth fully, meaningfully, and equally. By bridging the global gap in women’s participation in the workforce, it is estimated that an additional $5.3 trillion could be added to the global GDP, bolstering economic security and prosperity for all. Additionally, insights from the World Bank’s “Women, Business, and the Law 2023” report underscore the significance of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day in advocating for gender equality, as it reveals that only 14 economies have achieved equal representation of women in terms of legal economic standing.
This vision extends to a world where all individuals enjoy equitable access to meaningful employment, essential social and labor safeguards, professional networks, financial resources and digital technologies, entrepreneurial pursuits, and management and leadership positions, and attain economic stability. The U.S. Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security aims to promote “equal access to education, innovation, quality jobs, and decent work,” including entrepreneurial opportunities, for women and girls worldwide.