ITC’s statement in support of the Second Report of the UN Secretary General’s High Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment

The International Trade Centre congratulates the High Level Panel on this important milestone.

The drivers of economic empowerment identified by the Panel resonates with ITC’s hands-on experience in supporting women entrepreneurs.

Seeking to accelerate impact and optimise our global and local partnerships, ITC launched the SheTrades initiative in the lead up to the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. SheTrades is a goal: 1 million women to market by 2020; a blueprint of seven global actions; and a web and mobile app that offer a platform to connect and establish partnerships that foster women’s participation in trade.

Highlights so far include; over 100 partnerships committing to support 800,000 women; 12 national and one regional launch by the end of 2017; delivery of information, skills and business opportunities through the SheTrades app, as well as face to face; and leadership of the "Geneva Trade Impact Group" to drive the systemic change necessary for women to fully benefit from the multilateral trading system. The support we provide through a network of local institutions, and with the private sector has catalysed over $60m in new business for women owned companies and producers in the informal sector. And our efforts to leverage digital technology to the advantage of women are beginning to pay off.

Through SheTrades, ITC commits to continue to implement the recommendations of the High Level Panel. We hope to reach the one million goal by end of this year and keep momentum by scaling up ambition.

Thank you