ADB Supports Kyrgyzstan Loan Rate Cut for Women Entrepreneurs

Multiple initiatives across Asia, Latin America, and Africa are advancing women's financial inclusion and entrepreneurship through targeted funding, technology support, and specialized financial institutions. In Kyrgyzstan, the Entrepreneurship Development Fund, supported by the Asian Development Bank, has reduced loan interest rates for women entrepreneurs and will provide loans up to 5 million soms to aid their businesses. IFIC Bank in Bangladesh is empowering female students in technology by donating computers and educational resources to promote digital literacy under its campaign to support women in tech advancement. In Latin America, fintech startups and lenders are deploying innovative financial products tailored to women's needs, including gender-lens lending and digital tools, helping to close a significant funding gap highlighted by regional financial leaders. Ghana is establishing a Women’s Development Bank with over GH¢51 million in seed capital to provide low-interest loans and flexible financial services specifically for women-led businesses, reflecting a strategic economic commitment to gender-inclusive finance. These efforts collectively underscore a global momentum toward empowering women economically by improving access to capital, education, and professional opportunities.