SheTrades and Mary Kay

SheTrades Global

Overview

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.

Read about the event

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.

Read remarks by the ITC executive director

See the winners of the SheTrades Investment Challenge

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.

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Gambian woman smiling at the camera in front of a wall of colourful fabric bags behind her on shelves
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https://www.facebook.com/shetradesgambia
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SheTrades Rwanda marks impressive project results 2
SheTrades Rwanda marks impressive project results 2
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Two people discussing products at a trade fair in Morocco
SheTrades Morocco SIAL 2022
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The premier global business event to connect women entrepreneurs with potential buyers, investors and partners to grow their exports

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SheTrades and Mary Kay
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First name
Anna Claudia
Last name
Zaleski Mori
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Sustainable Development Goals

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

<p>Funded by Mary Kay Inc., the project<span>&nbsp;</span><strong>&quot;SheTrades and Mary Kay&quot;&nbsp;</strong>aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable development through the increased participation of women in trade.&nbsp;</p><p>The project will support a) women interested in taking the entrepreneurship route and b) women entrepreneurs from developing countries interested in expanding their businesses and integrating in regional and global value chains. The project will work at the global level, through online activities, and at the national level, with in-country activities in Colombia, Brazil, Mexico and India.</p><p>Impact:<strong>&nbsp;</strong>Inclusive and sustainable development through the increased participation of women in trade</p><p>Outcome: Women entrepreneurs are more competitive and ready to trade</p><p>Output 1: New SheTrades Entrepreneurship Curriculum created to foster female entrepreneurship in all sectors</p><p>Output 2: Women entrepreneurs supported with training on business development and export strategy to improve their competitiveness &nbsp;</p><p>The project is one of the central elements of the Women&apos;s Entrepreneurship Accelerator, a multi-stakeholder strategic partnership between six United Nations agencies: UN Women, United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Trade Centre (ITC), UN Global Compact (UNGC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). ITC leads the capacity building component of the partnership.</p><p><br></p>

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