Saudi Arabia

<p>The ITC SheTrades and Visa: Gulf Region Project aims to harness the economic potential of women-owned and led businesses in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and promote inclusive growth in the region. The project is implemented under the framework of Visa&apos;s regional grant and education programme, titled She&apos;s Next, with ITC SheTrades spearheading the capacity-building and networking component of the programme.&nbsp;</p><p>The collaboration unites ITC&rsquo;s expertise in supporting the growth of women-owned and led businesses with Visa&apos;s advocacy efforts and networks in the region. The project falls under ITC&apos;s Women and Trade programme which contributes directly to ITC&apos;s impact area on Inclusive Trade and SDGs 5, 8 and 17.</p>

<p>In view of the challenges to the trade of agricultural products in the NENA region, ITC will provide support<strong>&nbsp;to enhance intra-regional trade in selected agricultural value chains by removing obstacles to export, transit and import.</strong></p><p>The main objectives of this initiative are:</p><ul><li>To improve the livelihood of small-scale producers by unleashing new business opportunities through exports to regional markets</li><li>To reduce the cost of agricultural products for populations in NENA countries that are dependent on imports.</li></ul>

<p>The objective of the project is to address the constraints at farmer, enterprise and institutional levels, to ensure that the dates sector in Medina can meet increasing internal and external demand.</p><p><span lang="EN-US">The expected overall impact of the project is to contribute to sustainable economic diversification and employment creation through improved business performance of the dates` sector in the Medina region.</span></p><p><span lang="EN-US">The direct beneficiaries include farmers and SMEs active in the dates&rsquo; sector in the Medina Region as well as sector specific Trade support institutions,<span>&nbsp;</span><span lang="EN-US">the private sector and related government bodies.</span></span><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span><span lang="EN-US">The final beneficiaries will benefit from employment and income generation derived from increased economic activity of SMEs and increasing trade.</span></p><p><span lang="EN-US">The project will be implemented by ITC in cooperation with ITFC, working closely with support institutions at national level such as Saudi Exports and the Medina Chamber of Commerce and Industry.&nbsp;</span></p>