Women’s Economic Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is regarded internationally as one of the easiest places to establish a business. Prior to 2014, no in-depth research had been conducted on why women owned businesses start small and tend to stay small with women making up just 19% of high-growth entrepreneurs. The research shows that training programmes and networking initiatives for business owners often include more men than women. Women are also less likely to take out bank loans and when they do, this is generally on less favorable terms than for men. Presently, no gender-targeted policies and programmes for women business owners exist in Hong Kong. Research by the World Bank and ADB shows that women represent untapped potential as drivers of sustainable economic growth, and by facilitating an environment that better meets the needs of female entrepreneurs, countries can enjoy the financial and societal benefits of increased economic growth.