The WBENC Trade Mission in June was an opportunity for Canadian women-business owners with exporting goals to connect with corporate supplier diversity specialists, as well as export-oriented support organizations.

The WBENC Trade Mission is composed of a number of different events offered by a number of different agencies, all of whom focus on assisting women business owners in expanding and attaining their exporting goals through learning and networking opportunities. 

There were almost 100 Canadian delegates from most of the provinces. Delegates are women like Tatiana Wensley and Hailey Jeffries. 

Hailey is President of a newly established company called Prairie Fava, an agri-food ingredient supply company headquartered in Glenboro, Manitoa dedicated to supplying fava beans ingredients to food and pet food manufacturing corporations. Tatiana is Director of Tamponato Corporate Gifts headquartered in Vancouver B.C. that specializes in the design, customization and manufacturing of corporate gifts made of cork. 

As you can see, they are two very different companies, one is in the agri-food products manufacturing industry; the other in corporate gifts industry. But they have one key criteria in common: they are both interested in expanding their businesses via export.

Read the full article here.

On November 17, the WE FOR SHE movement is launching Canada’s commitment to gender equity at WE FOR SHE: Step it up for Gender Equality in Vancouver. You’re invited to come to Vancouver and be a part of this incredible event!

This forum is one of North America's largest gatherings of women's organizations, companies, experts, business leaders, advocates and young women and we encourage WEOC members to get involved at this important juncture as the initiative expands across the country.

The WE FOR SHE movement was launched in 2014, as a result of years of advocacy and action to increase the economic impact of women in BC. Based on the immense success of the collaboration, we’re now expanding its reach to create change across Canada and tackle gender equity in leadership on a national level.

Read the full article here. 

Ruth Vachon, President and CEO of the Quebec Women's Business Network participated in a diplomatic and economic mission organized by the Quebec government to the Maghreb. In addition to the Network, the Quebec delegation was composed of Quebec Deputy Premier Lise Thériault, Danièle Henkel, Sévrine Labelle of Femmessor, and Claude Delage of Desjardins Entreprises.

From July 1st to 9th, these women held various business meetings in Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, aimed at encouraging women's entrepreneurship and to highlight Quebec's expertise in this area.

There are still many challenges for women-owned businesses, both in Canada and in Africa. Missions such as these make it possible to stimulate exchanges and encourage more partnership between women entrepreneurs across borders.

The Prime Minster announced this month that Canada will be contribute $20 million to the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi). We-Fi is led by the World Bank, and aims to help women-owned businesses and women-led businesses in developing countries access the resources they need, such as access to capital and technical assistance. It will target small and medium sized businesses and will also invest in projects and programs that support women entrepreneurs. Read the full statement here. 

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