Chile's Ministry of Finance announced a programme of activities in Iquique, Tarapacá Region on 12 August to support implementation of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, with a focus on strengthening the economic autonomy of women and indigenous women entrepreneurs. The initiative is led by the Ministry’s acting Gender Coordinator, Loreto Schnake, with support from UN Women, BancoEstado and Arturo Prat University. The day includes a morning session at Arturo Prat University presenting the strategy’s main guidelines and progress, with emphasis on two priority groups: microentrepreneurs and women. The strategy, published in January 2025 and developed by the Advisory Commission for Financial Inclusion under the Ministry’s leadership, aims to reduce gaps in access, use and quality of financial services and to promote financial education, particularly for groups historically excluded from the formal financial system. Stated objectives include increasing women’s informed access to and use of financial products and services, building financial skills and strengthening women entrepreneurs’ access to financing instruments. In the afternoon, the technical secretary of the Advisory Commission for Financial Inclusion, Irina Meneses, will deliver a session for 30 indigenous women entrepreneurs on digital financial security and fraud prevention. The Ministry also plans to announce the development of a new culturally relevant financial and business management tool for indigenous women, to be designed jointly by UN Women, Arturo Prat University and the Advisory Commission, intended to support management of women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and facilitate access to financing and integration into formal economic channels.

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