Empowering Women Entrepreneurs for ASEAN’s Green Economy

Women are increasingly taking active roles in driving sustainable development, including as green entrepreneurs. By creating businesses that tackle environmental challenges while generating social and economic value, they are shaping the transition to a greener economy. Yet, in Southeast Asia, many women entrepreneurs face persistent barriers that limit their full potential in the sector.

Green Entrepreneurship in ASEAN

Green entrepreneurship is about developing products, services, and business models that reduce environmental impact while creating economic opportunities. Beyond gaining profit, it should tackle environmental challenges and drive positive social change.

As a developing economy amidst the growing threats of climate change, Southeast Asia looks to green entrepreneurship as a powerful solution. This potential is reflected in private green investments in the region. Between 2023 and 2024, the number exceeded US$8 billion. Experts predict it will reach up to US$120 billion in economic value and 900,000 jobs by 2030.

This highlights how governments and private sectors are positioning green entrepreneurship as a key driver of sustainable development.

Barriers for Women Entrepreneurs

Women play an essential role in advancing green entrepreneurship. The OECD notes that they are generally more aware of environmental, ecological, and health impacts in their business and consumption choices.

However, this potential remains underutilized in the region. Women-owned MSMEs tend to operate on a smaller scale than those owned by men. Furthermore, women hold less than half of the board positions in energy companies across Southeast Asia, ranging from 10.7% in Thailand to 29.7% in Vietnam.

Several factors contribute to this reality. First, limited access to finance, markets, technical training, and education restricts the growth of women entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia. There is also weak policy support specifically addressing the gender-energy nexus, and the lack of gender-focused initiatives.

Additionally, cultural norms and patriarchal structures limit women’s involvement in decision-making and leadership roles. One example is seen in Vietnam’s Truong Son hydropower project, where social norms limited their influence in planning and implementation.

Building an Inclusive Ecosystem for Women Entrepreneurs

ASEAN has made efforts through frameworks such as the ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework and the Declaration on Women’s Entrepreneurship. Still, major gender gaps persist, especially in leadership and financing.

Hence, to begin, the inclusion of women’s voices and their intersectionalities in leadership and policymaking is crucial. ASEAN’s existing Triple-Helix model—government, industry, and academia—is not enough. To build a more inclusive and effective ecosystem, incorporating civil society and media into the framework is key. These actors can amplify local voices, fostering understanding, community, and collaboration.

Furthermore, creating policies and financial instruments that address existing gender inequality is also important to boost women’s role in the green economy. At the end of the day, ensuring women’s full participation as green entrepreneurs is not only a matter of equality. Empowering women entrepreneurs can be a catalyst for a more resilient and sustainable ASEAN economy.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma