The much-anticipated two-day Women’s International Summit on Entrepreneurship (WISE) & B2B Expo 2025 commenced with grandeur at the Engineering Staff College, Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Hosted by The Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE), this transformative event serves as a platform to foster innovation, collaboration, and growth for women entrepreneurs.
A Star-Studded Inauguration
The summit was inaugurated by Shri Jishnu Dev Verma, Hon’ble Governor of Telangana, as the Chief Guest, alongside an esteemed lineup of dignitaries. The Guests of Honor included Smt. Konda Surekha, Minister for Environment and Forests, Govt of Telangana, and Smt. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.
Prominent figures from various industries and global platforms graced the occasion, including Smt. Meghana Rao, Founder of Meru International Schools; Smt. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group; Shri C. Shekar Reddy, National Vice Chairman – CII, Indian Green Building Council; Smt. Saroj Bajaj, President, Mahila Dakshata Samithi. International speakers such as Mr. Anurag Singh (UAE), Mr. Nicolas Cary (UK), Mr. Gareth Wynn Owen (UK), Mr. Ovais Sarmad (Spain), and Ms. Rubylyn Hernandez (Philippines) added a global perspective to the summit.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
WISE 2025 is designed to provide women entrepreneurs with opportunities for networking, knowledge-sharing, and business expansion. Over two days, the event features eight panel discussions covering topics like e-vehicles, emerging technologies, and rural-to-global entrepreneurship.
A major highlight is the B2B Expo, where 70 sellers showcase their products and services to over 40 buyers, including PSUs, software companies, and major corporations. This expo creates a unique buyer-seller networking platform, opening new business avenues for women entrepreneurs.
Recognizing Excellence: Shakti Awards 2025
A remarkable moment in the event will be the felicitation of 108 women entrepreneurs with the Shakti Awards at the valedictory session. These awards honor their outstanding contributions in diverse sectors and their role in empowering women entrepreneurship.
Key Highlights from the Opening Speeches
Shri Jishnu Dev Verma, while addressing the gathering, emphasized the role of technology in bridging gender gaps and opening up new markets. He stated, “Women are half the population, and we cannot talk about Viksit Bharat without empowering women. Technology is the key enabler for inclusive growth and scalable businesses.”
Smt. Konda Surekha reaffirmed the Telangana Government’s commitment to fostering women-led businesses through initiatives like the Indira Mahila Shakti Program, aimed at creating one lakh women crorepatis through financial aid and business support.
Smt. Mercy Epao encouraged MSMEs to leverage government initiatives like the GIFT Scheme and ONDC integration, which help women-led enterprises go digital and expand globally.
Smt. Sangita Reddy highlighted the significance of digital knowledge, urging women to use platforms like techequity.com, a G20-backed initiative offering over 500 courses in 120 languages for free.
WISE 2025: A Vision for the Future
Funded under the International Cooperation Scheme of the Ministry of MSME, WISE 2025 underscores the pivotal role of women-led enterprises, which contribute 20% of MSMEs, employ 23% of the workforce, and account for nearly 15% of India’s GDP.
Ms. Lalitha Aluri, National President, COWE, reflected on the organization’s two-decade-long journey in empowering over two lakh women entrepreneurs through market access, finance, and business development initiatives. She announced ambitious plans to expand COWE across all states, support 20+ micro-clusters, and establish women-specific industrial zones.
Ms. Uma Gurkha, Founder Director, COWE, emphasized the organization’s impact in training and advocating for women entrepreneurs, touching the lives of over 10,000 women through various programs.
A Global Platform for Women Entrepreneurs
The theme of WISE 2025, “Innovation, Sustainability, and Cross-Border Collaboration,” reflects the need for cutting-edge business practices and international partnerships to drive women-led business growth in today’s rapidly evolving economy.
With COWE celebrating 20 years of empowering women, WISE 2025 is not just an event—it is a movement aimed at fostering a sustainable and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem for women across India and beyond.
About COWE
The Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs through business development, mentorship, skill training, and policy advocacy. With a strong pan-India presence, COWE continues to shape the future of women-led enterprises.
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