On International Women's Day this year, Experian is reaffirming its commitment to female financial literacy and inclusion through a series of innovative social initiatives across Asia.

A growing body of research suggests that more female workforce participation in a country corresponds with higher GDP, as does greater gender equality overall. And a crucial element of this is boosting financial education and inclusion for women, widely seen as one of the most effective means of reducing poverty in emerging economies.

With that in mind, Experian is sponsoring and collaborating with non-governmental organisations such as Aidha and Pact, along with social enterprise iCare Benefits, to spearhead a range of innovative social programmes imparting financial and entrepreneurial skills to disadvantaged groups of women in Vietnam, India and Singapore.

"In today's complex and fast-changing world, there is a widening gap between those who are able to participate in the digital financial economy and those who are not, and being left behind," says Ben Elliott, Chief Executive Officer, Experian Asia Pacific. "Women are often disproportionately disadvantaged in this area - that is why Experian is committed to helping bring financial access to women in Asia Pacific. With our unique experience in unlocking the power of data, we have built clearer or wholly new credit profiles for women, giving many of them access to the formal financial system - and control of their economic future - for the first time."