PUM Netherlands senior experts (PUM) and Women on Wings have agreed upon a joint effort to reduce poverty through creating 25,000 sustainable jobs for women in rural India by supporting Indian social enterprises in their overall growth. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on October 15, 2019, in New Delhi, during the Dutch Trade Mission to India in the presence of Marjolijn Sonnema, Vice Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Ineke Dezentjé Hamming, Leader of the Business Delegation Dutch Trade Mission to India, and Sigrid Kaag, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.
Sigrid Kaag: “This partnership between PUM and Women on Wings is exactly what my policy is all about; women empowerment, sustainable development goals and female entrepreneurship. These are key success factors for doing business between India and The Netherlands.”
Economic growth and jobs for rural women
Currently, PUM and Women on Wings both already support a number of organizations in (rural) India. By collaborating, the strengths of both organizations will add even more value to economic growth and jobs for women in rural India. Access to business knowledge and technical domain expertise are a strong liaison to create more social impact.
Women on Wings and PUM will create a joint program which aims to co-create 25,000 sustainable jobs for women in rural India. This program will have duration of at least three years. Next to this joint program, Women on Wings and PUM will share their knowledge and network and connect promising entrepreneurs and enterprises.
Ineke Dezentjé Hamming, next to Delegation Leader also Chair/CEO of FME-CWM and member of the Supervisory Board of PUM: “I am very proud of the partnership which PUM and Women on Wings agreed upon. It will generate 25,000 jobs for women in rural India. That’s entrepreneurship ‘pur sang’. PUM and Women on Wings are a perfect match. Well done!”
Shilpa Mittal Singh, Director of Women on Wings: “Both PUM and Women on Wings have been working individually on scaling organizations in India with success, both from their own perspectives. By sharing our networks in India and bringing our experts from the Netherlands together, we can co-create even more impact. Not just for women in rural India, but also with regards to climate change and tackling waste in India. There’s a lot of knowledge to be shared and we really look forward to this partnership!”
About PUM Netherlands senior experts
PUM, leveraging its presence in India as well as over 35 other countries, offers knowledge and expertise in 50 sectors of the economy. It was founded by the confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers with support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It brings domain and technical expertise to small and medium enterprises to improve local economies resulting in vibrant businesses and better lives. It carries out 1500 advisory missions a year worldwide with a pool of 1700 professionals who support these businesses on a voluntary base. Since 1978 PUM has been assisting over 40,000 businesses worldwide.
About Women on Wings
Women on Wings provides business consultancy and mentoring to Indian social entrepreneurs operating in rural India. A network of over 60 Dutch and Indian professionals bring extensive professional experience in e.g. business development, marketing & sales, branding, finance, product development, retail and supply chain management. It acts as an accelerator, guide on strategic level and supports in operational implementation. In its 12 years of existence it has co-created 266,400 jobs for women in rural India with local NGOs and social enterprises.
