With neo-liberal globalisation, privatisation, and far-reaching technological changes, women have become part of local economies as well as global value chains. Women are engaged in emerging sectors of the technological revolutions and are making their presence felt in commerce, health, media, and every government and non-government-related policy space. While this is a globally prevalent situation for the Asia-Pacific region it is equally so with several developing economies dotting the Asia Pacific region, the issue of women and their empowerment and their ability to access greater resources is of growing relevance towards establishing an equitable global order.

Within Asia-Pacific, the effects of global warming including natural disasters increase, and the more vulnerable, women and marginalized groups are more likely to suffer from the underlying risks of inequality. Studies show that women are 14 times more likely to die from disasters than men, illustrating the discrepancies in social and economic rights across genders

As the scope of defense and security broadens to incorporate a wider range of global issues, India and Australia can prioritize including a more inclusive lens in sensitization and training within their security sectors.

Women contribution

While there is a grudging acceptance of the important contribution of women in every sphere and women over time they have been able to push the boundaries and reach out as never before, issues of lack of support, unequal pay structure, patriarchal practices, and social prejudices continue to inhibit women from maximizing their full potential.

The limitations or drawbacks exist at various levels- personal and public and official spaces. It is argued that technological innovation in the fourth industrial revolution is anticipated to promote economic growth and development while impacting on global working conditions. It also feared that this advancement of artificial intelligence and automation, which may eventually eliminate the need for human labour, especially in developing countries especially affecting the low-skilled female labour force could be the potential victim of this development. There is scope for effective adoption of and adaptation to transformational technologies leading to a more sustainable economy. As per some estimates, advancing women’s equality in the countries of Asia Pacific could add $4.5 trillion to their collective annual GDP in 2025, a 12 percent increase over the business-as-usual trajectory. (McKinsey and Company. 2018). Although even the recent Indo-Pacific Economic Forum has not specifically provided for women representation each nation can nominate and include as found suitable in the verticals decided upon under the existing framework.

Asia Pacific is understood to be the most dynamic region in the world, its growth and progress are possible due to the investment, technology, and innovation that are underway. Women are also contributing to the growth story but recognition of their role remains low. While the Asia Pacific region is surging ahead it is critical that none are left behind. Yet gaps remain in the understanding of the issue of gender ensuring that women are quality both in work and in society as well as.

Maximizing potential

Arguably, to ensure greater networking amongst women it needs to start with a few anomalies that also need to be addressed simultaneously to drawn in as many as possible in a larger ring of women being able to find their safe space and equal footing at home and work.  While much of the initial sensitizing should be starting at homes and primary education, the efforts must be buttressed at various levels.

The existing anomalies have to be understood as for generations similar situations have persisted and are often not understood as they are perceived and accepted as normal. Initiatives to create awareness and ensure equality and equitable at several levels need to be undertaken. First, the family units and education at the primary level are most critical to be able to set the tone and awareness of the issue and the prevailing circumstances. The report cited earlier has pointed out that, unlike the majority of men, most women are unable to be anywhere or/and anytime. The social conditions and the roles that are played by women does not allow for flexibility, especially in their professional life.  The other gender needs to be part of this process to consciously contribute towards building a more equitable environment at home and outside.

Building women networks

Women across the region need to be connected. Building several large networks would be one of the bridges to not only connect women from different backgrounds and engage in different sectors but also to learn and understand the good practices from each different experience. With a large network in place, they can then various more of these networks from different sectors and verticals.

A motherboard of networking with women leaders on board and aspiring and engaged women often works as an inspiration and motivation. The large umbrella network should be able to spin off several other networks that include the corporate, the health industry every other professional as well as an entrepreneur.

Educational hubs can be created with larger women representatives especially from the private sector in India as the flexibility facilitates such programs. The mentorship and leadership is core to ensuring a network grows and achieves what its set out to do,

The issue of funding and lack of it available for many of these activities has often been a stymying factor but for corporates and specific sectors, supporting women and their networks can also be seen as part of the corporate social responsibility which in India has increasingly played a growing role. The covid pandemic has also led to virtual connections becoming a norm. The dependence on funds can be minimized through technology but physical connectedness has many advantages so a mix of two kinds of interaction and hybrid interactions are becoming a norm these days. For any network to be effective, periodicity of the meetings and the scheduling and agenda if drawn up beforehand will help set the tone for the networking as well as the preparedness for the group members. These networks not only support building professional relationships, but open doors to new opportunities, and facilitate the exchange of ideas and best practices. Once the purpose is identified and elaborated, seeking collaboration even from different vertical or professional spheres lends a momentum to the network building process.

Each network and sub-network has to be led by a core team (rotating perhaps ) with different responsibilities for each to be able to highlight specific issues. The non-governmental sectors of each professional vertical can form different groups depending on the professional profiles and interest focus and engage in actively to building a strong presence through sharing relevant issues and material. These groups have to grow beyond the social connect, the specific agenda would be drawn through open consultation and each would have scope to raise and highlight pertinent issues. It also aids in career development, personal growth, and business success.

Whether it’s women from the corporate sector or other professionals as well as entrepreneurs, it is important to clarify the logistics of setting up your women’s network to set the group up for success. For networking to be successful fundamentals to consider are the group structure, the meeting places and times, the core focuses, and interest areas and fundings certainly.

The spread of networks can begin with domestic boundaries and that then can be developed further into different sub-regions before it becomes one that is fully representative of the Asia Pacific region.  The cobweb of the network begins local, like through a subject-oriented focus, and gradually develops a regional level at the domestic level then moves to a national level that can cover all the local provincial,  urban networks that can further connect with cross-boundary networks and subregions and larger regional network to develop a global network. Seeking feedback on the efficacy of each network is essential to make it grow and sutain the process.

The networks grow when each member finds suitable networks and hubs and each is even tasked with seeking partners beyond the immediate connection. Think tanks, trade and commerce Institutions, business enterprises, educational hubs, cultural organisations each can find and grow along such ways. Through these measures a supporting and effective network can be built and sustained. The network that has begun in Kolkata and other parts of India through the women4econimy platforms help build professional networks that lead to personal fulfilling experiences too. These networks provide a platform for women to connect, share experiences, exchange knowledge, and offer mutual support to each other.

Beginning from India, similar organization can be contacted or even built through individual connect in the region allowing the cobweb to grow and learn from each hub that has been supported by the state department allowing a large cobweb of network to grow and help women connect through larger platforms that would not have been possible at individual levels. Think tank, trade and commerce Institutions, educational hubs can be the different verticals that can be brought under specific and general network of professional women. India is a member of not only South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation, The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). In many of these regional organization there are several sub- themes and sub-sectors and women related verticals should be immersed in these different sectors. There is large scope for women from across the region to be brought together in many of the regional organizations. Indo-Pacific is increasingly become a new space for India to engage and whether in the economic cooperation or other aspects, women networks will find space and growth under many of the themes that the member countries are working on.