Inclusive trade: SheTrades initiative
ITC SheTrades and Unilever Indonesia Partnership Launch Event
<p>The International Trade Centre (ITC) and Unilever have launched a partnership to enhance procurement from women-owned and led businesses; and catalyse gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in Indonesia. In line with this, the ITC-Unilever collaboration aims to build a pipeline of eligible women-owned and women-led suppliers to advance Unilever’s commitment for a diverse and inclusive supply chain. Additionally, the partnership seeks to deliver technical assistance to bolster the competitiveness of Indonesian women-owned and led businesses to understand and comply with the sourcing requirements of large corporations such as Unilever. </p><p>The partnership launch event aims to give stakeholders and participants an overview of the partnership and its goals and activities to be undertaken; as well as convene key stakeholders and work with them to lay meaningful foundations to empower Indonesian women to trade.</p>
SheTrades Global
The SheTrades initiative at the International Trade Centre (ITC) has changed the economic lives of three million women in 30 countries by connecting them to markets. We have opened 12 regional hubs across Africa, Asia, South America, the Caribbean and Europe, and we continue to grow.
The initiative centres on empowering women engaging in international trade and creating a women-inclusive fairer business ecosystem. We help them overcome barriers and, with them, identify areas that urgently need to be addressed.
Our flagship event, SheTrades Global, brings together women entrepreneurs from all these regions. For women whose businesses are ready to export, they have a unique chance to connect meet potential buyers, investors and partners.
Previous editions of SheTrades Global — held in Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, Brazil, Rwanda, Mexico, and China — included representatives from over 85 countries and generated over $80 million of new business for women entrepreneurs.
Participation is free.
Unfortunately, after careful consideration of events over the past two years, as well as consultation with beneficiaries and stakeholders, ITC decided to cancel the 8th edition of SheTrades Global.
The SheTrades Initiative, and our partners in this endeavor, remain fully committed to continuing to create opportunities for women to trade across our collective, global portfolio. Please refer to SheTrades.com for information on our numerous opportunities and events, and for updates.
As the African Continental Free Trade Area prepared to begin, the conference heard how the common market needs to deliver for women.
The conference was featured at the 2018 International Business Festival, a major global festival of trade and investment held every two years in Liverpool. The Festival attracted industry leaders, international delegations and companies from across the world looking to expand their trade footprint.
This year will highlight four sectors – beauty and wellness; IT and business-process outsourcing; textiles and apparel; and tourism.
Before becoming SheTrades Global, the conference was known as the Women Vendors Exhibition and Forum (WVEF). This is the premier global event to get inspired, do business and create lifetime opportunities for women entrepreneurs by providing training, improving skills and facilitating meetings with buyers.
Photos
![Gambian woman smiling at the camera in front of a wall of colourful fabric bags behind her on shelves](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/image/media_image/2022/07/28/shetrades_gambia.jpg?itok=9dCt0maC)
![SheTrades Rwanda marks impressive project results 2](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/image/media_image/2022/03/11/shetradesrwanda1.jpeg?itok=XheDH4Pt)
![Two people discussing products at a trade fair in Morocco](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/image/media_image/2022/11/15/shetrades_morocco_sial_2022.jpeg?itok=okWEWz_M)
The premier global business event to connect women entrepreneurs with potential buyers, investors and partners to grow their exports