More female workforce participation in a country corresponds with higher GDP, as does greater gender equality overall, a growing body of research suggest.
And a crucial element of this is boosting financial education and inclusion for women, widely seen as one of the most effective means of reducing poverty in emerging economies.
With this in mind, on International Women's Day this year, Experian is reaffirming its commitment to female financial literacy and inclusion through a series of innovative social initiatives across Asia.
The leading global financial services company is sponsoring and collaborating with non-governmental organisations such as Aidha and Pact, along with social enterprise iCare Benefits.
The move aims at spearheading a range of innovative social programmes imparting financial and entrepreneurial skills to disadvantaged groups of women in Vietnam, India and Singapore.
Experian Asia Pacific’s Chief Executive Officer Ben Elliott sees a widening gap among women in terms of their participation in the digital financial economy, according to a media statement.
"In today's complex and fast-changing world, there is a widening gap between those who are able to participate in the digital financial economy and those who are not, and being left behind.”
Finding women disproportionately disadvantaged in this area, he said Experian is committed to helping bring financial access to women in Asia Pacific.
“... we have built clearer or wholly new credit profiles for women, giving many of them access to the formal financial system - and control of their economic future - for the first time."
Experian has partnered with Grameen Foundation to launch an ambitious new digital financial-education programme.