Digital transactions are on the rise across ASEAN, marked by an increasing use of
digital financial services and innovations such as peer to peer transfers, merchant and
bill payments, microloans, and insurance services. In ASEAN, the digital payments
sector alone is projected to be worth at least AUD2.05 trillion (USD1.57 trillion).
However, despite rapid growth, digital payments penetration in most countries in
ASEAN remains under 40%. It is even lower among women, who remain largely
underbanked and underserved, and deeply disadvantaged in terms of access,
knowledge, and awareness of digital transactions. As women face lacking access to
credit, lending, and saving facilities, more can and should be done to improve
financial inclusion of women.
With the right policies, initiatives, frameworks, and standards, significant economic
value can be unlocked for women and women led MSMEs (WMSMEs) across different
industries. This 90 minute session will explore existing trends, activities, and initiatives
related to women and digital transactions, with a focus on expanding financial access
for women and WMSMEs. It will draw on perspectives from experts and practitioners
to gain on the ground perspective on the issues and challenges faced by both public
and private sector organisations.
This event is jointly organised and supported by Access Partnership and the Royal
Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) as part of the Australian Government
funded ASEAN Australia Digital Trade Standards Initiative.
