Caribbean Women Entrepreneurs to Showcase Products at Ambiente 2024
Partnership with International Trade Centre Supports Regional Hub
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) hosted SheTrades Caribbean Regional Hub Network will showcase the products of three member companies at Ambiente 2024, one of the leading international consumer goods fairs in Frankfurt, Germany. The Regional Hub is partnering with the International Trade Centre (ITC) to support the participation of Tamara Gibson of Native Caribbean (Barbados), Nydia Norville of CHOISELLE (Saint Lucia), and Nadia Jabour of Designs by Nadia (Guyana/St. Lucia) to increase the region’s women-led Micro Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises’ (MSMEs) access to new markets.
About the Exhibitors
The Caribbean women entrepreneurs will form part of the International Trade Center’s (ITC) SheTrades Delegation. The Barbados-based Native Caribbean manufactures scented candles, reed diffusers, room sprays, and wax melts. CHOISELLE offers coconut wax candles in glass, coconut shell, and bamboo vessels and bath and body oil, while Designs by Nadia pedals fashion statement jewelry made mainly of fish scales.
Support from CDB and ITC
CDB’s Director Projects, Therese Turner-Jones, cited this activity as “another exciting opportunity for export-ready women-led businesses in the Caribbean to expand their trade into other regions” stating that “the SheTrades Caribbean Hub will continue working with other regional partners and stakeholders to provide similar opportunities to bolster participation of women entrepreneurs in regional, intra-regional, and international trade throughout the year.” The Bank worked closely with the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) to identify and mobilize applicants from its database of women entrepreneurs to attend the trade fair, which takes place from January 26 – 30, 2024.
Ambiente 2024 Opportunities
Ambiente offers opportunities for women entrepreneurs to secure Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings; meet existing partners; acquire new contacts; secure potential partnerships, deals, and sales; learn to make market assessments and increase awareness of current market changes and trends.
ITC SheTrades Hubs
As the key partner for the SheTrades Caribbean Hub, the International Trade Centre (ITC) is also providing mentoring, technical, financial, and market access support to twelve (12) companies from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean through the ITC SheTrades Hubs to participate in the Ambiente Consumer Goods Trade Fair. Exhibitors have received training on supplying handicrafts to the UK and European markets. The capacity-building program has assisted the women-led businesses in the handicraft sector with navigating the intricacies of logistics, customs, regulations, pricing strategies, product presentation, and sustainability requirements, ensuring their readiness to successfully enter the United Kingdom and European markets.
SheTrades Regional Hub Progress
Since its launch in September 2023, the SheTrades Regional Hub has mobilized 814 women entrepreneurs as members. Its implementation team has delivered capacity building support to over 400 women through the ITC SME Academy’s online certificate courses. The SheTrades Regional Hub in the Caribbean is a collaborative 2-year program supported by the ITC being implemented by CDB.
Conclusion
The SheTrades Caribbean Regional Hub is proud to support the participation of these three member companies at Ambiente 2024. This event provides a unique opportunity for women-led MSMEs to expand their trade into new markets and increase their visibility on the global stage.
FAQs
* What is the SheTrades Caribbean Regional Hub?
The SheTrades Caribbean Regional Hub is a collaborative 2-year program supported by the International Trade Centre (ITC) being implemented by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
* What is the purpose of the SheTrades Regional Hub?
The purpose of the SheTrades Regional Hub is to support the participation of women-led Micro Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in regional, intra-regional, and international trade.
* What is Ambiente 2024?
Ambiente 2024 is one of the leading international consumer goods fairs in Frankfurt, Germany. It provides opportunities for women entrepreneurs to secure Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings; meet existing partners; acquire new contacts; secure potential partnerships, deals, and sales; learn to make market assessments and increase awareness of current market changes and trends.