Policy Brief – Women’s Inclusion in India’s Trade Ecosystem: From Talk to Action

Trade policy cannot be gender-neutral in a world where women enter a trade with a pre-existing disadvantage, built on social, institutional, and structural constructs. It needs to counter the disadvantage and bring women and men to a level playing field, at the very least. However, the ability of women to participate effectively in trade is dependent on more than what trade policy can address alone. It requires trade policy, domestic reforms, and capacity-building initiatives (including digital, financial literacy, and other trade-related skills) to work in parallel. This policy brief lays the foundation of how a more equitable and inclusive trade ecosystem can enable India to make greater strides in regional partnerships, primarily the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. It details some of the key ongoing initiatives to improve women’s participation in international trade and presents actionable recommendations for addressing gender gaps in India’s trade ecosystem and how doing that is central to India accomplishing its Indo-Pacific goals.