Closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship is not just a challenge for women: it is a collective responsibility that demands concrete commitments. Good intentions are not enough; a solid institutional framework is needed to eliminate barriers, guarantee real access to resources, and promote co-responsibility policies. But it also requires a cultural change: for families, businesses, and society to recognize the value of women entrepreneurs not as exceptions, but as natural protagonists of the economy
—
If we talk about businesswomen, several names surely come to mind. There are many examples in the Cuban entrepreneurial community of successful businesswomen who have become role models for business men and women across the country, and not only in the private sector. However, cultural, economic, and structural factors mean that women start from more disadvantageous conditions than men when starting a business.
Official data demonstrates this. 25% of the partners in private micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are women, according to statistics from the Ministry of Economy and Planning. This means that barely 1 out of 4 private business owners are women.
Women who are holders of self-employment licenses (TCP) were, until September last year, 38%, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. However, the figure could be inflated, as the source includes all persons who were license holders, even those TCPs who are employees of other TCPs.
In the agricultural sector, the situation is no different. According to data from the Cuban Observatory on Gender Equality, a project by the FMC, ONEI, and the Center for Women’s Studies, in 2024, 77% of land owners and usufructuaries were men and only 23% were women. Although the indicator grows by 0.6% compared to the previous year, the gender gap is evident among people with rights of ownership, use, and enjoyment of land.
In the state sector, the indicator of women in management positions reflects greater parity. 42.8% of women occupy a leadership position in political, economic, and social decision-making spheres. This panorama is consistent with the public policies implemented for decades to eliminate discrimination, promote the role of women, and reduce the gender gap.
Data recorded by ONEI, 2021–2024.
The trend is similar worldwide. Latin America is the region with the most female business owners, but most businesses are small and in activities with lower added value. According to the 2023/2024 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report, countries like Mexico and Puerto Rico have the lowest percentages of businesswomen (16.1 and 20% respectively), while others like Ecuador (33.4%) and Chile (30.2%) are at the forefront. Regardless, it is a global gap that is more or less pronounced depending on the region and country.
Then the question arises: Why are women a minority as owners in the business world? The cultural barrier is key to explaining this. The stereotype of the successful businessman (man) is deeply rooted, and this conditions other political, economic, and social factors. For example, according to the World Bank, 35% of businesswomen globally have faced gender bias to access financing, and those who succeed receive 5% less capital than their male counterparts. In turn, the sexual division of labor implies a disproportionate burden of unpaid work (domestic and caregiving duties) for women, which limits their time for entrepreneurship.
What to do to have more women entrepreneurs
Closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship is not just a matter of social justice; it is fundamental as a strategy to boost productivity, innovation, and growth. Global GDP could grow by 20% if this gap is closed, according to World Bank calculations. Such data or calculations do not exist for Cuba, but boosting female empowerment in business will undoubtedly bring economic and social benefits.
Cuba is a country that needs more businesses of all sizes and in all sectors of the economy. It is a supply-constrained economy, with a pronounced scarcity of goods and services, and where private entrepreneurship has flourished in recent years due to regulatory opening. Women, and the entire workforce in general, have high qualifications compared to other economies in the region. However, despite the regulatory flexibility of 2021, significant structural and legal challenges persist.
Promoting the development of women owners requires a comprehensive strategy that addresses both structural barriers and concrete opportunities. Some lines of action include, but are not limited to:
- Access to financing. A key problem for starting a business. Specific financing mechanisms must exist for women, with more favorable conditions such as lower interest rates and flexible guarantees. The Cuban banking sector can design and operationalize products such as microcredits and loans in both Cuban pesos and foreign currency.
- Training and development. If financing is important, knowledge for entrepreneurship is also important. Technical training programs in business management (preparing business plans, conducting market studies, financially evaluating a decision...) strengthen women's capabilities and prepare them to face the challenging Cuban context. Institutions such as the FMC and universities implement this type of action, but greater involvement from local governments and other territorial institutions such as chambers of commerce is important.
- Leveraging international cooperation programs in Cuba. Many of the programs and projects of international cooperation agencies with representation in Cuba prioritize the inclusion of women in their work objectives. UN agencies such as UNDP, FAO, UNFPA execute financing together with Cuban authorities to boost female employment, access to microcredits, and women-led ventures in strategic sectors such as agriculture.
- More visibility. Disseminating good practices of successful businesses in a sector or industry would help position the role of businesswomen and dismantle the myth of the masculine stereotype. Through the media and the support networks of the entrepreneurial community, communicating good examples encourages other women to start their journey as business leaders.
- Fostering support networks. Networks, events, and programs have been organized within the entrepreneurial community itself to promote female solidarity in the business world. From mentorships to motivational talks, entrepreneurs dedicate spaces to connect.
Closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship is not just a challenge for women: it is a collective responsibility that demands concrete commitments. Good intentions are not enough; a solid institutional framework is needed to eliminate barriers, guarantee real access to resources, and promote co-responsibility policies. But it also requires a cultural change: for families, businesses, and society to recognize the value of women entrepreneurs not as exceptions, but as natural protagonists of the economy.
The path of Cuban women entrepreneurs should not be seen as an exception, but as an indispensable force for the island’s economic development. What once seemed like an isolated phenomenon is now consolidating as a transformative pillar. When women advance, the economy does too. And in a Cuba that needs to reinvent itself, their success is not optional, but essential.
