SheTrades Hub is an initiative of the International Trade Centre (ITC) that aims to connect women entrepreneurs to international markets. This online platform provides opportunities for women-owned businesses to showcase their products and services to international buyers, network and access learning, investment and business opportunities to take their business global.
The T&T SheTrades Hub, the first in the Caribbean, was launched by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and exporTT in collaboration with the ITC in October 2020. The Hub’s membership continues to grow from 125 women-led businesses in December 2020 to over 700 today.
Through the SheTrades Initiative, women-owned businesses in T&T have been able to:
i. Increase networking opportunities with other women entrepreneurs, buyers and investors;
ii. Expand knowledge in trade and export through targeted training and capacity-building workshops; and
iii. Expand their businesses through B2Bs, trade fairs and trade shows.
IWD Business Seminar–“Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress”
The Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with exporTT hosted a Business Seminar to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024, at the Government Campus Auditorium, Port-of-Spain. The event was held under the United Nations theme “Count Her In: Invest in Women Accelerate Progress” and included participation from several government officials, female business executives and entrepreneurs, including those registered on the local SheTrades Hub and female secondary school students and teachers.
Amongst the attendees were Mrs Sharon Rowley, Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry and other government ministers.
Participating schools were Tranquillity Secondary School, Holy Name Convent, Port-of-Spain; Woodbrook Secondary School; St Joseph Convent, Port-of-Spain and St James Secondary School.
The seminar featured inspiring and motivating presentations by two guest speakers, Akousua Dardaine Edwards and Dr Winnette McIntosh Ambrose, who shared their stories of entrepreneurship, advice, challenges and successes.
Edwards is a Gender and Entrepreneur Specialist and founder of the Enabling Enterprise Project in T&T. She has won awards for Social Entrepreneur of the Year in T&T and Caribbean Female Social Entrepreneur of the Year from the Global Innovation Partners. She was named one of the 2019 Women’s Economic Ambassadors by Diversity RD Global.
Dr Ambrose, originally from T&T, is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in chemical engineering and has a PhD in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University. She is an engineer-turned-entrepreneur and a two-time Food Network champion. She is the owner of the bakeries “Souk” and “The Sweet Lobby” in Washington, DC.
The seminar also highlighted the achievements of the SheTrades Hub
• Trained over 160 women across T&T in the areas of Identifying and Assessing Export Markets; Developing Export Plans, Export Readiness and Following up on Export Leads, to further strengthen their business skills;
• Funded the participation of 24 female entrepreneurs to participate and showcase their products at international and regional trade shows in Madrid, St Lucia and Barbados. The national export promotion agency exporTT is working with these women to follow up on leads generated; and
• Funded the participation of 66 women-owned businesses to participate at local trade shows and markets, including the Export Centres Company Limited Craft Market and the T&T Manufacturers’ Association Trade and Investment Convention. Through these initiatives, these businesses were able to boost their visibility, increase sales and expand business connections.
Delivering remarks at the event, the Minister of Trade and Industry congratulated the women for joining the SheTrades Hub and taking advantage of the opportunities to start and grow their businesses. Gopee-Scoon encouraged the students to capitalise on their academic studies and harness their innate ingenuity, passion and creativity to cultivate new ideas that may be turned into valuable goods, services and business opportunities for T&T. She noted that “entrepreneurship is about more than just starting a business; it is about creating your own path, shaping your own future and making a meaningful impact on society. By choosing entrepreneurship, you are choosing to be the architects of your own future.”
Pamela Coke-Hamilton, executive director of the International Trade Centre (ITC) also delivered remarks virtually. She congratulated T&T on the work it has been doing to support women-owned businesses and conveyed the ITC’s continued support for the local SheTrades Hub.
Women in SheTrades Hub speak
In relation to this year’s theme, “Count her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress”, how has the hub invested in you as a woman and contributed to accelerating your progress in the world of business?”
Jeanette Marcelle
Handmade by Jeanette
I have done several training courses available on the SheTrades platform. Of all the courses, the one that I found really helpful in turning my business around was the export readiness course. It assisted me in deciding which products were best for exporting, which markets were suitable to enter and how to approach a buyer/customer once I finally entered those markets to close a sale. Having the support of SheTrades for me means I can truly grow with my business. I now feel like I have a seat at the table; I am counted in.
Joycelyn Francois Opadeyi
Age with Joy
SheTrades is a tremendous platform for women in business. As a unique service provider of Retirement and Elderly Care services, (Age With JOY), this scholarship from WTO/ITC has exposed me to many unconventional training possibilities in other countries, re-ignited the passion to fulfil my dream and inspired positive energy to further grow and excel in my business. I have returned home with greater strength and conviction knowing that there exists a high-level support globally for the community of businesswomen who dare to step out of traditional work fields, defy the odds and, instead of focusing on imagining, design and execute their dreams. I am convinced that is where the future of innovation lies for us, women in business.
Kedella Isaac
Jhenella Isaac Luxury Handbags
SheTrades has facilitated and accelerated my business growth and exports by offering training and opportunities that have enabled me to gain valuable insight into new international markets, expose my business to new global opportunities, and prepare my business for expansion into these new economic territories.
Dilean Smith
Just D’s
As a lead business, Just D’s is committed to flourishing in the dynamic landscape of agro-processing. I am very appreciative of the support given through the hub. The platform provided a means to foster growth, innovation, and international collaboration with women in different spheres. Thank you for championing women entrepreneurs and fostering a thriving ecosystem and digitalization system for our businesses.
Cassandra Ramdin
Ramdins Consultancy
The SheTrades platform has a lot of useful, informative webinars with great panellists. I’ve learned a great deal from these sessions on how women-led businesses can have an advantage as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). I have benefitted from several free trainings and events that are offered. Being a part of this hub has also given me great opportunities, most recently, the chance to attend the WTO-ITC SheTrades Summit in Abu Dhabi.
To be a part of this initiative, and to connect to a strong network of business support entities and women-led businesses, join the ITC SheTrades T&T HUB today at
https://exportt.co.tt/export-resources/shetrades-tt