Correspondent | The News Bulletins
Karnataka to bring exclusive MSME policy for women, says Minister Darshanapur at UBUNTU event
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister Mr D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday said women entrepreneurs are not merely employees but creators of employment for hundreds, stressing the government’s commitment to supporting their growth through policy and partnership. He was speaking at the valedictory session of the fourth edition of the International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, organised by the UBUNTU Consortium — a global collaboration of 65 women entrepreneurs’ associations with over 30,000 members — in Bengaluru. A highlight of the event was the participation of nearly 3,000 women entrepreneurs, all dressed in pink sarees, symbolising unity and solidarity.
‘Women Entrepreneurs Drive the Economy’
Mr Shivakumar said entrepreneurs play a central role in economic growth and must receive continued government support. “We must first look at the employer before the employee. Women entrepreneurs are helping build industries and livelihoods,” he said. Referring to UBUNTU’s collaborative motto, Shivakumar said, “Joining together is a beginning, thinking together is progress, and working together is success.” He called on women entrepreneurs to suggest ways the government can strengthen their participation in business.
Highlighting Karnataka’s contribution to women’s employment, he said 50 percent of engineers in the IT sector and 37 percent of doctors in the state are women, while women make up 80 percent of paramedical workers and 60 percent of the hotel industry workforce.
MSME Policy for Women Entrepreneurs Soon
Minister for Small Scale Industries and Public Enterprises Mr Sharanabasappa Darshanapur announced that the state government will soon introduce an exclusive MSME policy where we will seek recommendations from the UBUNTU consortium for bringing a robust women-centric industrial policy. “UBUNTU’s efforts in reaching entrepreneurs in tier-two and tier-three cities show a strong commitment towards inclusive growth,” he said.
Mr Darshanapur praised the consortium’s digital literacy initiative to train 10,000 women in digital marketing by 2027, and noted that women-led startups are strengthening India’s economy. “India ranks seventh in the Global Women Entrepreneur Index, with 20 percent of women entrepreneurs contributing 17 percent to GDP. We will continue to support women-led industries through programmes like RAMP, hackathons, and incubation schemes,” he added.
Awards Presented to Women Entrepreneurs
During the event, the prestigious Udyam Vikasini Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Ms. Uma Reddy, the first woman president of FKCCI, Karnataka, and Ms. Pratima Dhond, the first woman president of GCCI, Goa.
The Hidden Ubuntu Gems Award was presented to Vidya M. Murkumbi, Executive Chairman, Ravindra Energy Ltd., Belagavi.
The Ubuntu Gems Awards were given to Vandana Suri (Founder and CEO, Taxshe Services Pvt. Ltd.), Promodini Nagaraj Gowda (Director, Pummy Foods LLP), and Noor Jahan (Founder, Women’s Auto Tigers Association).
UBUNTU Star awards were presented to 27 women entrepreneurs as well.
Collaboration and Inclusion Take Centre Stage
In the morning session, Mrs K. Ratnaprabha, Founder-President of UBUNTU and former Chief Secretary of Karnataka, said the consortium has evolved into a robust support network for women across the state. “We can develop UBUNTU like a women’s bank that supports each other. Through this platform, we’ve learned to share, be patient, tolerant, and understand others better,” she said.
Mr Sanjay Almelkar, Associate Vice-President, Sales & Marketing (South), JSW Steel Ltd, said that diversity in the steel sector is increasing. “Women make workplaces smarter, safer, and sustainable. When women enter industries like steel, they transform them — and when industries grow, the nation progresses,” he said, calling UBUNTU a strong platform for mentorship and collaboration.Mr Piyush Garg, Senior Export Enablement Manager, Amazon Global Selling, India, spoke about how AI models are helping women entrepreneurs access global markets. Mr Vinay Bantu, President and COO, Global Economist, Washington DC, said women entrepreneurs worldwide are driving innovation and employment. “In the US, 60 percent of businesses are owned by women, creating 10–15 million jobs. Women bring innovation even in adversity — from developing cancer detection devices to taking traditional crafts to global platforms,” he said.
The event highlighted UBUNTU’s mission to empower women entrepreneurs through collaboration, digital inclusion, and sustainable business practices, reinforcing the idea that women’s entrepreneurship is central to India’s economic growth and social transformation.