Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. However, this is not difficult anymore. The SAARC region is boasting of world’s few women in the highest positions, serving as sources of inspirations for women from other parts of the world. A woman president in Sri Lanka, women Prime ministers in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the historical change in the Presidency of India-First lady President Honorable Pratibha Devisingh patil. However, while few SAARC women have made it to the top, the irony remains that the rural masses of women in this region still suffer from abstract poverty and face difficulty in even exercising their voting rights.

Empowerment of women in South Asia has remained a challenging issue. It has received increasing attention in the region especially in the last two decades. The issue involves national as well as international dimensions. The vast women of South Asia are conditioned to be socially and economically dependent not only because of the underdevelopment of the entire region but also due to a conservative social and cultural system.

Women constitute over 51 percent of the total population of 26 million in the Kingdom of Nepal. Recognizing the growing awareness of the role of SMEs and with the recent census revealing that there are over 2, 60000.00 self employed women in Nepal; a growing awareness of the need to empower women economically for poverty alleviation is seen as one of the most critical challenge.

Here I would like to share my own experience in being an entrepreneur, which led me to build a strong belief on Social Entrepreneurship and work for the economic empowerment of women. This beginning led to numerous openings! I started my career experimenting with limited knowledge of a successful woman entrepreneur. But in all this, there was a desire to be empowered and imbibe a sense of pride in my undertakings. Fifteen years ago when there was no definition of woman SMEs, my beginning in the garment sector was not welcomed by many educated and urban savvy people. The concept of producing designed garments for the local market was unheard of and people could not comprehend how I could spend hours sitting with a team of tailors giving instructions! Business Culture meant extending a helping hand or being a passive shareholder in family business. The role of SMES in the national economy was irrelevant, though in reality SMEs have played a vital role in the contribution of entrepreneurships at rural and urban level. Study has shown that 95% industries are SMEs worldwide. In Nepal 88% are SMEs (informal and formal sector) with just 7% industrial sector.

After a decade long experience working in a decision making level as an entrepreneur and with my active involvement with entrepreneur’s organizations, it has been my strong belief that women led organizations can be a catalyst in strengthening women’s economic role in national life. My experience in promoting and investing on women initiated ventures by incorporating Social Entrepreneurship culture has had multiple effects. This is the power of working together as a unified force. These business alliances has led to strong business networks and linkages. Several undertakings also brought the opportunity to work for the development of women as a member of the National Commission for Women of the Government of Nepal. All this was not possible without believing in Social Entrepreneurship which means to learn to contribute to make a difference in society by supporting the interests of the less privileged.

I would also like to share the achievements made by our organization. FWEAN fosters empowerment through networking, facilitating and sharing of best business practices. We have been successful in tapping into existing resources to develop business networks and linkages; in setting up woman cooperative, a marketing outlet of agro products produced by women. Many women came for trainings as housewives and today are producing some of the best pickle brands, spices, soups, and lentils today they are the recipients of the best woman entrepreneur’s awards!

I am also the promoter of the SAARC Chamber Crafts Village, a platform not only for Nepalese women but also for the South Asian rural and urban women entrepreneurs, producers, professionals and service providers for strengthening trade links through marketing and promoting products. from the South Asian Region. This project is under the aegis of SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneurs Council, a sub sector of the SAARC Chamber for Commerce and Industry.

All this would not be possible single handedly. Today our organization is working as a unified voice for women in Nepal and also in the region an affiliate of SCWEC. - Let us all work for bridging the Gap between Micro and SME sector, as micro finance borrowers are potential SMEs. We strongly believe this is the path for women to “transform their status from passive beneficiaries to dynamic agents of change.”

Lastly I would like to share a great sense of pride and happiness for every woman achiever-from the micro to the macro level! We all need to advocate the value of The Power of Economic Empowerment!

Let us all work with the belief of the enlightening words Madame Pratibha Devisingh Patel, said in her Speech, on her assumption of office on 25th July 2007 as the first woman President of India I quote: Empowerment of women is particularly important to me as I believe this leads to the empowerment of the nation.