AKIPRESS.COM - India, Hong Kong and France appear to have a more vibrant female entrepreneurial community with nearly half of successful entrepreneurs being women, according to the Global Entrepreneurism Report 2015, based on a study by international bank BNP Paribas.

Against this backdrop, the Indian government’s decision to set up a separate body for women entrepreneurs along the lines of the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry dedicated to nurturing and helping female business professionals is timely and welcome. The National Council for Women Entrepreneurs will rope in India’s top female entrepreneurs and would look at various ways of promoting female entrepreneurs, including disbursing loans at lesser rates of interest. More importantly, what budding female entrepreneurs need is a social ecosystem that first breaks old taboos and instils confidence within the family and society, reports New Indian Express.

The study also found that overall, female entrepreneurs are considered just as likely to succeed as their male counterparts. However, there is a potential need for more successful female entrepreneurs to become strong mentors for the next generation. The proposed council should be clear-focused on its mandate and serious-minded to nurture and create more women entrepreneurs pan-India rather than being just an act of tokenism or end up as an elite club. It should have a clear road map that is actionable and sustainable.