WTO Event Elevates Women in Digital Trade
Geneva: For the first time, at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), women entrepreneurs from around the world will step into the spotlight, bringing their experiences, innovations, and challenges directly into the international trade arena. The high-level event on women and trade, set for 25 March in Yaoundé, Cameroon, aims to move beyond policy debates to tangible measures that expand women’s access to global markets and the digital economy. Registration for participation is open until 22 February.
A central feature of the program will be the work of the WTO’s Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender, established in September 2020 following the Joint Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment from the 2017 Buenos Aires Ministerial. Members and observers of the group will present a comprehensive new compendium consolidating technical work, research, and best practices since 2020, reflecting a decade-long effort to embed gender-responsive policy across trade agendas.
The event will also launch a joint initiative with the WTO Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, producing a compendium titled “Empowering Women to Trade through Digitalisation: Policy Insights.” This publication is designed to explore how digital technologies, regulations, and targeted interventions can enhance opportunities for women-led enterprises. Co-chairs of the gender working group are expected to release a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to inclusive trade and strengthened collaboration with other WTO bodies.
A key highlight will be the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, launched in February 2024 by the WTO Secretariat and the International Trade Centre to support women entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses through international trade and digitalisation. During an interactive session titled “100 WEIDE Women Said,” fund beneficiaries will share insights from a survey identifying barriers and opportunities for women in digital trade. The session will also feature a quiz-style competition among country teams, with winners receiving a selection of products from WEIDE-supported businesses. The fund is backed by the United Arab Emirates, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Legacy Fund, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The program will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of ITC SheTrades in 2025. Through the “Champions of ITC SheTrades” session, donors and partners will reflect on milestones achieved and the partnerships needed to further expand women’s participation in trade. This will be followed by the “ITC SheTrades Innovation Festival – Made by African Women, Ready for the World,” where selected young African women innovators will pitch practical, scalable solutions addressing real-world challenges. The winner will be announced at the networking reception.
The reception will additionally showcase the work of the Agency for Robusta Coffee of Africa and Madagascar (ACRAM), including its roadmap to expand women’s opportunities in the coffee value chain and a pilot initiative to improve women’s access to finance. These initiatives are supported through the EU-funded African, Caribbean and Pacific Business-Friendly Programme, implemented by ITC, situating women’s empowerment within broader private-sector development efforts across ACP countries.
Organisers describe the Yaoundé event as both a policy and accountability moment, providing a platform for evidence-based discussions, practical initiatives, and partnership-building aimed at advancing women’s participation in global trade. Applications close on 22 February.
– global bihari bureau
