Gujarat has always been touted as an entrepreneurial state where people have an innate sense of doing business. Women of the state are also much ahead in the league of finding a place for themselves as successful entrepreneurs, despite hindrances which are typically faced by women when they venture out into the business world. Understanding the issues, the state is also extending an able support system with an amalgamation of conducive policies, support institutions and business incubators. Gujarat Women Economic Development Corporation Ltd., Govt. of Gujarat has been diligently pursuing the agenda of promoting women entrepreneurship by developing entrepreneurial capacity and business resourcefulness among women for sustainable income generation through enterprise creation. The project goal is to sensitize 3850 women through Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAP) and train 1050 potential women entrepreneurs under customized ‘Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WEDP)’ every year. The project location is PAN Gujarat, comprising 33 districts. GWEDC has partnered with EDII in designing and implementing the project across 33 districts of Gujarat. Thus far, the project has generated impressive results towards bringing women into the mainstream.

The impact generated is a testimony to these credible feats. 

• 7707 women have been sensitized under 165 Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAPs).
• 1343 potential women have been trained under 40 Women Entrepreneurship Development Programmes.
• 522 women have successfully started their micro enterprises
• Average income per women entrepreneur per month is Rs. 7338/-
• Total investment made is Rs. 131.36 lacs
• Employment generated is 673

Enhancing abilities, confidence and preparedness of women to establish and run their enterprises would certainly lead to stable, inclusive socio-economic development.