ITC showcases export potential for women and youth (en)
ITC’s Enhancing Arab Capacity for Trade (EnACT) Programme was showcased during the cocktail event. EnACT focuses particularly on strengthening skill-building activities for export-related employment creation, especially for women and youth, in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.
Jordanian entrepreneur Ms. Samar Habayeb spoke to attendees about her experience with EnACT. She said that with the support of ITC, her company, Sisal, which produces accessories and furniture for homes, has been able to penetrate the European Union market and now counts the Louvre Museum’s gift shop among its clients. ‘In our efforts to expand abroad, we have achieved huge progress by standing on the shoulders of the ITC,’ said Ms. Habayeb.
Ms. Habayeb said that the success of Sisal is dependent upon the talent of its 30 employees, pointing out that more than half are women and nearly half are below the age of 35.
Ms. Patricia R. Francis, Executive Director of ITC, and Mr. Petko Draganov, Deputy Secretary General of UNCTAD, in welcoming the attendees to the event, spoke about the importance of entrepreneurship and employment for women and youth for the sustainable growth and post-crisis recovery of the Arab region.
The cocktail event is one of two events ITC is hosting at UNCTAD XIII. On 24 April, 12h00-14h00, ITC is hosting, in partnership with TASDEER, a panel discussion titled ‘Free Trade Agreements: Necessary but not sufficient. Lessons from the Arab region.’