Chandigarh: Haryana Governor Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh today called upon financial institutions to strengthen their outreach to rural women entrepreneurs by simplifying loan processes, reducing collateral requirements and treating every self-help group and micro-enterprise as a partner in nation-building.
Addressing the valedictory session of the Women’s International Summit on Entrepreneurship (WISE) 2026, on the theme “Rooted in Rural, Powered by Technology: Building Sustainable Futures for Women-Led MSMEs,” organised by the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE) India here, the Governor said that banks must take financial services to villages and small towns so that women entrepreneurs do not have to struggle to access institutional credit. Smt. Mitra Ghosh, First Lady of Haryana was also present on this occasion.
He also called upon industry bodies and e-commerce platforms to create dedicated spaces, both online and offline, for rural women-led MSMEs. He also stressed the need for greater investment in skilling programmes that combine traditional knowledge with modern technology, including GI-tagging of local crafts, digital marketing, modern packaging and export documentation.
Ashim Kumar Ghosh urged the participants to carry forward the confidence and knowledge gained during the summit and become mentors and torchbearers for women in their respective communities who may still be hesitant to take their first step towards entrepreneurship. “Return to your communities not just as entrepreneurs, but as mentors and torchbearers for other women who are still hesitant to begin,” he said.
