Workshop on Fostering Inclusive Digital Economy: Empowering Women through Participation in Digital Start-ups

This report summarizes the outcomes of the APEC Workshop on Fostering Inclusive Digital Economy: Empowering Women through Participation in Digital Start-ups, held virtually on 17-18 June 2021. The workshop has facilitated sharing knowledge, best practices, and experiences among women entrepreneurs and policymakers to implement effective gender-responsive policies to foster women participation in the digital economy.

Following the discussions, the workshop recommends a multi-pronged approach to promote equal participation and narrow gender gap, among others: (i) improvement of skills, education; (ii) better access to finance; (iii) minimizing gender stereotypes and ingrained socio-economic biases; (iv) maximize labor market participation through policy levers; and (iv) regular measurement and evaluation against achievement.