Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Mexico

Women represent one-third of entrepreneurs in Mexico, yet they typically have few opportunities to access financial investments for their businesses. In 2021, Citi partnered with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to provide $70 million to Banco Compartamos, the largest microfinance institution in Mexico. Compartamos, which translates to “let’s share” in Spanish, is using the funding to support and empower more than 135,000 small businesses, approximately 90% of them women-owned. A portion of the loans is dedicated to the less developed regions of the country, including Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero and Puebla.