In Asia: Weekly Insight and Features from Asia

The UN estimates that the Asia-Pacific economy would earn $89 billion every year if women were able to achieve their full economic potential. Economically empowering women builds better educated, healthier families and stronger communities, and decreases poverty. The Asia Foundation recently partnered with the U.S. Department of State and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to conduct a research report on barriers to women in business in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Continued efforts to better understand and address the barriers that limit women’s economic potential is vital for the growth of the Asia-Pacific region. Working with local partners, the Foundation identifies and targets specific constraints that women entrepreneurs face and provides them with a full range of tools, including networking, access to information and credit, and business management training. This slideshow features women entrepreneurs across Asia and reveals some of the barriers they face.