The European Union and UN Women jointly launched a three-year program encouraging business opportunities for women in seven Asian countries.

The €8 million program WeEmpower Asia, funded by the EU and to be implemented by UN Women, aims to address gender concerns in business practices in the Asian countries.

The program will run in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

It is hoped that the program will promote dialogue among women's groups and the public and private sector, in an effort to build a business environment that empowers women.

The program will also provide skills training for female entrepreneurs to engage with businesses, policymakers and decision-makers.

"Women's economic empowerment is a prerequisite for inclusive and equitable economic growth," said Mara Marinaki, EU principal adviser on gender.

"It can drive gender-equality outcomes and broader intergenerational benefits for women, their children, households, and communities," she said.

Anna-Karin Jatfors, UN Women's acting regional director for Asia and the Pacific, said that WeEmpower Asia will create transformative partnerships between private sector companies, female entrepreneurs, women-led businesses, and policymakers to drive social change.