By sheer chance and after a coffee with Ms Arwa Hassan Al Qassim of Dubai Culture I was politely asked if I would like to be a panelist at the SheTrades MENA Launch. I said YES!
Many thanks to Dr Ashraf Mahate Chief Economist at the Government of Dubai and Dubai Exports and Ms Al Qassim Dubai Culture for providing me with a platform to talk about my passion FAIR TRADE.
I cannot deny it was a nerve wracking experience and exciting event to attend.
Many thanks to Anna and Vanessa for being very kind and considerate.
Thank you to all the lovely ladies who wrote in my guest book.
Watch the video of the official launch here
Photograph Courtesy of ITC
His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of the Department of Economic Development (DED), and Ms. Arancha González, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, launched the Hub alongside the regional meeting of the Arab Countries Trade and Investment Organizations Network (ACTION), hosted by Dubai Exports in partnership with ITC and the support of the Aid for Trade Initiative for Arab States (AfTIAS).
The Stage at the SheTrades MENA LAUNCH
Ms Anna Claudia Zaleski Mori ITC SheTrades Initiative, International Trade Centre
Ms. Vanessa Erogbogbo, Head of the ITC SheTrades Initiative, International Trade Centre and ME!
L-R: Panellists
Ms. Mariam al Shamsi, Managing Director, Munch-n-crunch,
Mr. Saeed Karbash, Deputy CEO, Dubai Islamic Economy Development Center
ME!
Ms. Stevi Lowmass, Founder, Camel Milk Soap Company
Ms. Iris Van Der Veken, Director of International Public Affairs, Dubai Multi Commodities Center
Here I am talking about Fair Trade and the Fair Trade Mark
Ms. Iris Van Der Veken, Director of International Public Affairs, Dubai Multi Commodities Center and ME!
Women’s economic empowerment is not a matter for government policy, the private sector, or civil society alone. All have critical roles to play. This is why the International Trade Centre (ITC) has launched the SheTrades initiative, which seeks to connect one million women entrepreneurs to market by 2020.
Having more women in the marketplace has a positive impact businesses in all sectors and the women themselves who benefit from a larger workforce, more competition, and as a result more choices between better products. In fact, the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that advancing women’s equality could add US $28 trillion to global GDP by 2025, enabling economies to unlock their full potential –and SheTrades is the key.
While women’s economic empowerment has been on the global development agenda for almost two decades, knowledge about female entrepreneurship has been fragmentary, and the business and economic cases have not been fully articulated. Our months’ long consultations in 2015 with thought leaders around the world sought to ramp up the trajectory towards eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. These consultations revealed that a key challenge is the persisting silos between the various actors working in this area, as well as the substantive components of women’s enterprise development including research, policy, finance, access to markets and capacity building.
Stakeholders ranging from financial institutions to research and multilateral organisations are called upon to collaborate with ITC to expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs by making specific, actionable pledges. Click an icon below to become a part of the movement and join SheTrades as we continue to drive policy changes that scale-up women owned businesses.
Source: SheTrades
Dubai Exports, an agency of Dubai Economy - Government of Dubai, commenced operations in 2007. As part of the Economic Development Department of Dubai, its mandate is to facilitate trade from Dubai and establish itself as a world-class export development and promotion body by creating an enabling environment for Dubai’s exporters. Dubai Exports has developed a range of value-added trade support services to UAE-based firms exporting through Dubai, for accelerated and profitable expansion of their businesses in foreign markets.
Source ITC
The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, visit www.intracen.org
Source ITC
Women Do Business: She Trades Global 2018 Liverpool UK
Courtesy of ITC
Dubai Islamic Economy Development Center
This August I continued to heal from my shoulder procedure (January 2022) and am learning to live with pain in my right shoulder.
My right shoulder was very painful and inflamed and I struggled to write this blog.
I attended a 2 day online webinar titled, 'Journey towards Meaningful Connectivity Exploring Value' with the Institute of Social Entrepreneurs Asia, (ISEA).
Joined the August 2023 webinar about storytelling with World Pulse.
I listened to guest speakers highlighting how to teach literacy to deaf learners from eKitabu, this session was organised by the World Literacy Foundation and Sun Books monthly webinars.
This month I continued to heal from my shoulder procedure (January 2022) and am learning to live with pain in my right shoulder.
I was very poorly and couldn't post about Plastic Free July 2023 everyday but hope to add short videos soon.
I attended a Zoom webinar titled 'The role of faith organisations tackling loneliness' organised by the Civil Society Consulting team.
Attended a Zoom webinar about social entrepreneurs and health organised by WISE women.
This month I continued to heal from my shoulder procedure (January 2022) and am learning to live with pain in my right shoulder.
I participated in the 2 day Loneliness Learning Programme organised by the Civil Society Consulting.
Attended the Fairtrade Foundation UK June 2023 Catch Up Zoom webinar.
Celebrated Eid Al Adha with my siblings.
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I'm Sabeena Ahmed owner and creator of The Little Fair Trade Shop. I've been an individual associate member of the World Fair Trade Organization since 2011 and together with my artisans I bring you a bespoke collection of ethically sourced fashion & gifts.
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