The fifth annual Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE) provides insight into the progress of women in business around the globe. The MIWE performance ranking draws on socioeconomic factors that nurture or hinder the ability of women to progress and thrive in the business world. 65 economies were examined with the index providing an overall assessment of how women are faring in business, financial, education and workplace settings.
Hong Kong rose to fourth place in Asia Pacific with a score of 64.7 putting it at seventeenth globally. Hong Kong was also listed as sixth worldwide in entrepreneurial supporting conditions which undermines the risk women face in business. However, working women in Hong Kong place eighth globally in knowledge and financial assets showcasing their high ability to gain capital as well as operational financing. Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand were the other Asia Pacific economies to place inside the top 20.
Globally, the United States tops the MIWE rankings with an overall entrepreneurial framework that has remained broadly stable. This is underpinned by strong supportive conditions as seen in its ranking on indicators such as availability of venture capital, SME operational financing and positive cultural and social norms towards entrepreneurism. New Zealand ranked second, and Canada came third.
Of the lowest-ranked economies, women’s ability to thrive as business owners, leaders and professionals remain constrained by the lack of funding and opportunities for higher-level education as well as structural barriers.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
