Since the establishment of the SheTrades Hub in 2020, over 700 local women-owned businesses have registered with the hub.
This was confirmed by Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee–Scoon at the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s SheTrades business seminar held at the Government Plaza Auditorium yesterday.
The event, which was part of the Ministry's recognition of International Women's Day, was held under the theme United Nation’s theme “Count her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress”.
"Since the launch of the initiative, over 160 women across Trinidad and Tobago were trained in the areas of Identifying and Assessing Export Markets; Developing Export Plans, Export Readiness and Following up on Export Leads, in order to further strengthen their business skills, " said Gopee–Scoon.
"Twenty-four female entrepreneurs received funding to participate and showcase their products at international and regional trade shows in Madrid, St. Lucia and Barbados. exporTT, our national export promotion agency is working with these women to follow-up on leads generated," she said.
The Minister noted that the hub also afforded local businesswomen international opportunities.
" Sixty-six women-owned businesses benefitted from funding to participate at local trade shows and markets, including the Export Centers Company Limited Craft Market and the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association, Trade and Investment Convention. Through these initiatives, these women-owned businesses were able to boost their visibility, increase sales and expand business connections," said Minister Gopee-Scoon.
Dr. Winnette McIntosh Ambrose, T&T born engineer-turned-entrepreneur and two-time Food Network champion and Akousua Dardaine Edwards, gender and entrepreneur specialist and founder of the Enabling Enterprise Project in Trinidad and Tobago shared their experiences with the audience during the event.
The event was attended by several prominent women in society including attorney-at-law Sharon Rowley, Minister of Public Administration Allyson West, Education Minister Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Housing and Urban Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister – Gender and Child Affairs Ayanna Webster-Roy. Also attending the event were Lisa Morris Julian, Minister in the Ministry of Education as well as Senator Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal, Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs and Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing.