Women-owned businesses in the Philippines can look forward to connecting to international markets thanks to the new SheTrades PH Hub launched at the annual Philippines National Export Congress on 3 December 2020.
The SheTrades Philippines Hub, was launched by the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) and the International Trade Centre (ITC). The hub is part of ITC’s SheTrades initiative, which aims to connect three million women entrepreneurs around the world to international markets by 2021.
Hosted by the DTI-EMB, the hub seeks to roll-out the global SheTrades initiative in the local context by aligning it with government initiatives on women’s economic empowerment for increased local ownership and sustainable long-term impact.
‘ITC is very excited to be launching this SheTrades Hub because not only is it the first-ever SheTrades Hub in Asia, but we have the pleasure of partnering with the Philippines’ DTI-EMB to make it a reality and a success,’ ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton said.
‘We can do a lot together to bolster the international competitiveness of Filipina women-owned businesses in the Philippines and to support them to tap into regional and global value chains,’ she added.
Philippines Trade Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman said: ‘The SheTrades Philippines Hub is a platform to help Filipina women entrepreneurs increase their international competitiveness and connect them to national, regional, and global markets.’
He added: ‘DTI recognizes the importance of the government’s role in supporting women-owned businesses, not only for MSME development but also for the internationalization of women-MSMEs as well. By working together with international organizations and various business support institutions, towards reaching Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality and decent work and harnessing women’s full potential, the Philippines is assured of a more inclusive and innovative environment that can achieve higher levels of development.’
DTI-EMB, as the national host institution, focuses on Pillar 4 (Striking Business Deals) and Pillar 5 (Enabling Market Access) of the SheTrades Initiative and is currently mobilizing women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses in the Philippines on the SheTrades.com platform.
Women-owned businesses and corporations will benefit from a wide range of opportunities to expand their business and advance women’s economic empowerment:
· CONNECT with global businesses
· EXPORT products and services
· LEARN through e-learning courses
· PARTICIPATE in workshops, trade fairs, and other business events
To learn more and become a member of the SheTrades Philippines Hub:
Register at www.shetrades.com and visit http://tradeline.dti.gov.ph/web/tradeline-portal/shetrades
About ITC – The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
