SheTrades Hubs: ‘The heart of what we do’
Our global network of SheTrades Hubs give women entrepreneurs the skills and resources they need to succeed in global trade.
Their second annual meeting in Geneva looked to amplify their work by finding ways to scale their businesses and enter new markets.
Their second annual meeting in Geneva looked to amplify their work by finding ways to scale their businesses and enter new markets.
3 MIN READ
news update
SWITZERLAND
SEPTEMBER 27, 2024
From 9 to 13 September, representatives from 25 institutions met with the SheTrades Hubs to reflect on their milestones in supporting women entrepreneurs in international trade. They looked at how different Hubs can work together, undertook training exercises, and learned from each other.
‘The SheTrades Hubs Annual Meetings go to the heart of what we do,’ said Dorothy Tembo, ITC Deputy Executive Director.
In addition to the SheTrades Hub delegates, four Pakistani Chambers of Commerce and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (AWEN) also sent delegates to the meetings.
For the Pakistani representatives, this included receiving in-depth training on export procedures. Handbooks developed by the SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme guided them in how to export textiles, apparel, handicrafts, women’s accessories, and food to the United Kingdom.
The Southeast Asian delegation held a strategy workshop on a long-term vision on women’s entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia. This blueprint will guide them over the next 10–20 years.
‘The SheTrades Hubs Annual Meetings go to the heart of what we do,’ said Dorothy Tembo, ITC Deputy Executive Director.
In addition to the SheTrades Hub delegates, four Pakistani Chambers of Commerce and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (AWEN) also sent delegates to the meetings.
For the Pakistani representatives, this included receiving in-depth training on export procedures. Handbooks developed by the SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme guided them in how to export textiles, apparel, handicrafts, women’s accessories, and food to the United Kingdom.
The Southeast Asian delegation held a strategy workshop on a long-term vision on women’s entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia. This blueprint will guide them over the next 10–20 years.
There is a challenge here, in abstract terms, about how we can make a difference for trade and development. But what (SheTrades Hubs) do is to take those abstractions and make them concrete and translate them into market opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
H.E. Simon Manley
UK Ambassador to the World Trade Organization and United Nations
UK Ambassador to the World Trade Organization and United Nations
The SheTrades Hubs are a force for change, and a testament to the importance of having solutions that are owned and led by country and regional actors. But they’re also a network, spanning dozens of countries, helping thousands of women entrepreneurs achieve their business goals and enrich their communities in countless ways.
Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton
Executive Director, International Trade Centre
Executive Director, International Trade Centre
The meetings this year were held alongside other major trade gatherings – the World Trade Organization Public Form, and the ITC’s flagship sustainability event, the Trade for Sustainable Development (T4SD) Forum.
Tembo said the WTO discussions ‘debated one of the defining questions of our age: how to achieve better trade for a better world.’
On Wednesday, participants of the SheTrades Hubs Annual Meeting learned more about their roles in this ‘defining question’. At the WTO Public Forum, they heard discussions on global trade developments, including a session dedicated to the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy Fund. They also met with WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton.
Some participants participated the T4SD Forum in Bern. Tantrie Soetjipto, from the SheTrades Indonesia Hub, spoke on a panel about how women entrepreneurs could be pivotal in efforts to mitigate climate change.
Tembo said the WTO discussions ‘debated one of the defining questions of our age: how to achieve better trade for a better world.’
On Wednesday, participants of the SheTrades Hubs Annual Meeting learned more about their roles in this ‘defining question’. At the WTO Public Forum, they heard discussions on global trade developments, including a session dedicated to the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy Fund. They also met with WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton.
Some participants participated the T4SD Forum in Bern. Tantrie Soetjipto, from the SheTrades Indonesia Hub, spoke on a panel about how women entrepreneurs could be pivotal in efforts to mitigate climate change.
Tantrie Soetjipto and Siti Zakiah join in on the celebratory mood at the SheTrades Hubs Annual Meeting.
Participants with H.E. Simon Manley and Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton at the SheTrades Hubs Annual Meeting
The Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Lahore Division) gifts Ms. Coke-Hamilton a token of appreciation.
The SheTrades Hubs Annual Meeting is funded by the United Kingdom, as part of the SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme.
The Annual Meeting ended in an atmosphere of forward momentum. The week set the stage for strengthened networks, innovative ideas, and a shared commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs on a global scale.
‘The enthusiasm of the host institutions of SheTrades Hubs to forge connections and co-create opportunities for women entrepreneurs was truly invigorating this year,’ said Michelle Kristy, Global Coordinator of SheTrades Hubs.
ITC will launch the SheTrades Brazil Hub this October, and hubs in India and Sri Lanka are slated for 2025.
The Annual Meeting ended in an atmosphere of forward momentum. The week set the stage for strengthened networks, innovative ideas, and a shared commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs on a global scale.
‘The enthusiasm of the host institutions of SheTrades Hubs to forge connections and co-create opportunities for women entrepreneurs was truly invigorating this year,’ said Michelle Kristy, Global Coordinator of SheTrades Hubs.
ITC will launch the SheTrades Brazil Hub this October, and hubs in India and Sri Lanka are slated for 2025.
With thanks to the UK, the in-person format enabled the global community of SheTrades Hubs host institutions to deepen exchanges of new ideas and the participation of Geneva Chamber of Commerce and three UK-based Chambers of Commerce also brought a level of excitement and new partnership opportunity for the Hubs.
Ms. Michelle Kristy
Global Coordinator of SheTrades Hubs
Global Coordinator of SheTrades Hubs
About ITC SheTrades Hubs
ITC SheTrades Hubs are resource centres dedicated to women entrepreneurs and implemented in partnership with the ITC SheTrades Initiative. Hosted by leading in-country or regional institutions, SheTrades Hubs offer women entrepreneurs the knowledge, skills and platforms to access market and investment opportunities.
We bring together a community of partners to scale up resources and initiatives to support women in trade.
We bring together a community of partners to scale up resources and initiatives to support women in trade.
About ITC SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme
Financed by the UK International Development and launched in April 2018, the ITC SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme aims to foster an enabling gender-inclusive business ecosystem by promoting inclusive policy and data and engaging business support organizations, private-sector partners, and women-led businesses in the Commonwealth+ countries