Women entrepreneurs got an opportunity to interact with leaders from different fields, who shared their experiences. The chairperson of National Commission for Women, Lalitha Kumarmagalam, highlighted the importance of financial independence for women, which she said are actually influential in curtailing violence against women. NCW receives 250 complaints on daily basis, 70 percent are for domestic violence. The pattern shows that once women own property or have financial backing, the violence against them drops by 90 percent.

Kumarmangalam, along with Pankaja Munde-Palwe, Minister for Rural Development, Women and Child welfare were the chief guests. Among the panelists who attended the Çhampioning Women Entrepreneurs with a global focus,’ a day-long conference organized by World Trade Centre Mumbai and Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA), at WTC Mumbai, included Rupa Naik, Director (Projects) WTC Mumbai, renowned designers Ritu Kumar, Shaina NC and two other panellists professor Amruta Ambekar and Neeta Arora.

In contrast to urban, elite audience that she addressed, the Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Pankaja Munde Palwe shared her experiences of working with rural and deprived women. Munde Palwe expressed confidence that every women entrepreneur present will go out and help at least one deprived.

She also talked of the fact that developed countries have only 5 percent women entrepreneurs while the African and Asian countries have 40 percent women entrepreneurs and she was proud that Maharashtra with 50 percent women entrepreneurs is a leader in this field

Renowned designer and pioneer in fashion branding, Ritu Kumar emphasised on the role of women in handloom industry.

Another designer and politician, Shaina NC spoke of supporting other women, which begins at one’s home. Shaina said there should be only one vertical for Narendra Modi’s Make in India, as Women who make in India.’

Earlier, addressing the audience, Dr Dhanashree Hardas, Chairperson-WEC, MACCIA spoke of liberalization, privatization and globalisation as the three important needs for today’s women. Hardas assured women that WTC, AIAI and MACCIA’s will create a road map for women entrepreneurs to go global. The entrepreneurs were assured of mentorship and proper advice.

Rupa Naik announced the launch of OWIT, US based organization run by women for the benefit of women under the aegis of MVIRDC and suggested clusters for women.

Two women leaders, Neelima Mishra who started organisation for women in rural areas and Sujata Sahu, who started a Non Government Organisation in Ladakh were felicitated for their efforts.

The panellists also discussed on “Branding the Way Ahead to Market” and “Plans, Policies and Finance for Women Entrepreneurs” during the event.

From L-R: Neeta Arora, Prof. Amrutha Amdekar, Vijay Kalantri, Shaina NC, Pankaja Munde-Palwe, Dr. Dhanashri Hardas, Lalitha Kumaramangalam, Amit Kamat, Santosh Mandlecha, Meenal Mohadikar, Rupa Naik & Jaya Goyal at the Conference on on May 16 , 2015 at WTC Mumbai