OWIT-Toronto News - Blog

OWIT IWD2026 Commemoration Webinar - #GiveToGain

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:13:01 GMT

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, OWIT-international hosted a compelling webinar titled Give to Gain, bringing together women from Africa, Europe, and the Americas to discuss how women are redefining trade around the globe.

In her opening remarks, President Noreen Burroughes Cesareo (OWIT-UK) emphasized that women are building strong businesses, entering new markets, and participating in global trade. The challenge is not participation, but an “architecture gap” - within the surrounding systems of finance, procurement, and market access, women still face challenges in succeeding and scaling up. Yet, women are finding ways to navigate, adapt to, and even re-shape these structures.

Give to Gain highlights how women are contributing immense value, and when the right systems are in place, the returns can be exponential. OWIT helps build meaningful connections across markets and sectors in ways that create growth and revenue, enabling women not just to participate in trade, but evolve it.

Moderated by Blessing Irabor-Oza (OWIT-Nigeria) and Salome Kavindu (OWIT-Kenya), the webinar invited the following speakers to share their business achievements, successes in trade, and advice for women entrepreneurs:

Patricia Kenneth, International Centre for Protocol and Diplomacy, OWIT-UK
Sandra Ejang, Western Silk Road, OWIT-Uganda
Temitope Mayegun, Avila Naturalle, OWIT-Nigeria
Jennie Sammur, TP & JS Enterprises, OWIT-Tampa Bay

Takeaways:

When we open up opportunities to others, we gain opportunities ourselves - even if in unexpected ways.
The real gains in trade come from investing in the people and systems that create value.
OWIT plays a key role in amplifying women’s voices in global trade and connecting them to networks. In Africa, women are leveraging OWIT to engage with government bodies on trade facilitation.
Women must prepare to adapt in an ever-changing world by identifying their strengths and staying resilient.

OWIT-TO at Team Canada Trade Mission to Mexico

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:10:27 GMT

The Honourable Minister Dominic LeBlanc and OWIT- Toronto Chair of the Advisory Committee Alma Farias

OWIT-TO Strategic Advisor and Chair of the Advisory Committee Alma Farias participated in a reception in Monterrey in February to welcome the Team Canada Trade Mission to Mexico, led by the Honourable Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

Alma was invited to attend alongside Canadian delegates and members of the business community. The reception was opened and organized by the Canadian Consul General Annabelle Larouche and her team at the Consulate General of Canada in Monterrey, which created a welcoming platform for engagement between Canadian and Mexican stakeholders in one of Mexico’s most dynamic industrial and trade hubs.

The mission was one of the largest Canadian trade missions to Mexico in recent years, bringing together more than 240 Canadian organizations. In the days following the reception, hundreds of B2B meetings were organized between Canadian and Mexican companies to explore new partnerships and strengthen bilateral trade.

During the event, Alma connected with representatives from both countries and organizations advancing cross-border collaboration in the region.

[l to r] OWIT Monterrey President Elect Marcela Lopez, OWIT- Toronto Chair of the Advisory Committee Alma Farias, and Betsabe Rocha Nieto, Secretary of Economy, State Government of Nuevo Leon

[l to r] Canadian Chamber in Monterrey incoming president Jorge Arrambide, EDC Regional Director, GTA West Amesika Baëta, OWIT- Toronto Chair of the Advisory Committee, Alma Farias, President-Elect of OWIT Monterrey Marcela Lopez

OWIT at Youth for Canadian Trade Diversification Event

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:23:50 GMT

OWIT-Toronto was pleased to sponsor Youth for Canadian Trade Diversification (YCTD)’s first event of 2026, Empowering Youth, Diversifying Trade. YCTD was founded by Julie Nguyen, Chair of Canada-ASEAN Initiatives at York University and Director of the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council. This organization seeks to empower the next generation to shape Canada’s global trade future, connecting young professionals with expertise in foreign markets to Canadian businesses and stakeholders.

The session included two panels: the first on youth’s role in trade diversification featuring YCTD Youth Representatives moderator Connie Legaspi, The Philippines; Adriana Meriam Elsabel, Indonesia; and Chamilka Wijesinghe, VP, YCTD; and one on support for Canadian trade diversification, moderated by OWIT-Toronto Co-President and featuring Vanessa Donia, Trade Commissioner at the Ontario Regional Office of Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service, Mauricio Ospina, International Market Consultant and Founder of the Canadian Hispanic Business Alliance, and Dr. Olutoyin Oyelade, Founding Partner at Invcap Corporation and President & CEO of Casa Foundation.

Canada’s evolving trade diversification strategy is looking towards emerging markets as key growth areas, leveraging trade agreements, sector-specific developments and geopolitical shifts to expand opportunities. With 15 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in force, Canada has built a strong framework to enhance market access and support businesses abroad. Diversification is increasingly viewed as not only an economic objective but also a strategic imperative to reduce overdependence on single markets and strengthen Canada’s long-term resilience and global positioning.

Since the members of YCTD know so much about other markets, understand the local cultures and have innovative ideas, they can make a great contribution to Canada’s goal of doubling non-US exports by 2035.

Here are some key takeaways from the panels:

Trade is primarily about human connections.
Canada should use the talents of YCTD at this critical time of building new global relationships and reinforcing existing ones.
Latin America is a priority region in the global energy transition, with critical mineral reserves driving demand for infrastructure development and mining modernization alongside cybersecurity capabilities.
Africa’s youthful demographics and increasing regulatory reforms position it as a high-growth market with expanding opportunities across energy, mining, agriculture, and technology, with deepening potential for strategic partnerships.
The growing participation of women in leadership and entrepreneurship are reshaping regional trade dynamics, with partnership-based models key to scaling exports by women-led firms.
Government-supported trade missions, embassy programs, and sector-specific delegations support businesses in reducing market entry risks and building relationships in new markets.

Interprovincial Trade: Moving Towards One Canadian Economy and AGM

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 22:20:23 GMT

OWIT-Toronto started off the new year with the January Annual General Meeting and an insightful fireside chat on interprovincial trade in Canada, hosted by Bennett Jones LLP.

AGM Updates

We are pleased to welcome two new Board members for 2026: Susana Vaz, VP Communications, and Abigail Noronha, VP Sponsorship. Susana is the Strategic Planning and Initiatives Senior Manager for Economic Development at the City of Toronto, while Abigail is the Technology & Media Relationship Manager at Export Development Canada. We would like to sincerely thank our previous Board members for their valued contributions to OWIT-Toronto.

Fireside Chat

Jessica Horwitz, Partner at Bennett Jones, led a conversation with Geneviève Gabanna-Leblanc, Economic Development Manager for the City of Vaughan and previously Director of Economic Affairs at the Québec Office in Toronto within Investissement Québec.

New Opportunities

In an era of uncertainty with the United States, the Canadian federal government has taken new steps to promote diversification and interprovincial trade, but policy, legal, and geographic barriers remain. While navigating this landscape can be challenging, now is the time for businesses to leverage these opportunities. Public procurement and retail are seeing a shift toward Buying Canadian, while manufacturing is regaining strategic priority. Other high-potential sectors include energy, mining, transportation, health sciences, and creative industries.

Expansion Plans

When expanding interprovincially, Gabanna-Leblanc suggests that businesses assess their readiness with three considerations:

Know your market: Understand your value proposition and who your clients/buyers are.
Be ready to deliver: Establish a proven customer base at home, create a business plan, selectively attend trade shows, and secure multiple contracts.
Understand the competition—even in smaller or niche industries.

With the right preparation, entering new provinces can unlock timely pathways to growth for Canadian businesses.

New OWIT Award Unveiled

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:33:14 GMT

At the celebration of OWIT–Toronto Chapter’s 25th Anniversary, we were proud to recognize and honour one of our founding members, Susan Baka, who has remained an unwavering advocate, mentor, and highly respected leader in the trade community.

Susan, Co-President and VP International of the Toronto Chapter, and Co-VP of Chapter Development for OWIT International, was presented with the Excellence in Global Trade Award.

This award is defined as: a woman who has achieved outstanding success in international trade. She demonstrates excellence in expanding markets, fostering global partnerships, and driving export growth. Through her leadership, innovation, and commitment, she serves as a role model for others pursuing success in global commerce.

We were also fortunate to hear heartfelt remarks from three women who have worked closely with Susan over the years. A special thank you to Anita Agrawal, Amesika Baeta, and Sue Rauth for sharing their reflections and highlighting Susan’s exceptional contributions to women in trade over the past 25 years.

Congratulations, Susan!

Where We've Been - OWIT at the Ontario Economic Summit 2025

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:26:48 GMT

OWIT-Toronto was invited to the 2025 Ontario Economic Summit, which this year featured the thought-provoking theme of Leadership Across Borders. Political leaders, prominent bankers, and business executives all weighed in with insights on issues of the day, from Canada’s response to trade tensions with the US, to the transformative potential of AI. They had plenty to say about Canada’s move from reliance on one market to diversifying to other markets, about investments in AI, infrastructure, defence and critical minerals, and about the importance of Indigenous participation in the latter. Despite all the challenges of a rapidly changing global landscape, a definite consensus emerged that with challenges come opportunities.

Where We've Been - OWIT at the Toronto Global Forum 2025

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:23:26 GMT

OWIT-Toronto board members Megane Visette, Lilian Marins and Susan Baka and attended this year’s Toronto Global Forum, which provided insights on the global economy and trade landscape from many senior business and political leaders. Key messages included the need for governments to adapt to evolving economic and geopolitical change, and for Canada to balance close U.S. ties with broader diversification and reduce interprovincial trade barriers. Speakers also highlighted the rising notion of “Advantage North America,” the accelerating role of AI in productivity, and the surge in energy demand driven by the growth of data centres, advanced manufacturing, and EVs.

OWIT Work Related to CUSMA

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 18:44:09 GMT

By Georgina Wainwright Kemdirim, Vice President Policy, OWIT-Ottawa

OWIT-Canada, which is OWIT-Ottawa and OWIT-Toronto jointly, delivered a submission to Global Affairs Canada on the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) on November 3, 2025, as part of the stakeholder outreach process.

In our submission, we noted the value of CUSMA for trade and investment and the importance of its renewal for Canada's prosperity and that of the entire region. We noted the many positive gender elements of the existing Agreement such as in the Labour and SME chapters, and reminded GAC of the Gender Based Analysis Plus of the final Agreement and the importance of reviewing that for opportunities to make the Agreement even stronger from a gender and inclusion point of view. We also encouraged Canada's negotiators to continue to be ambitious and seek a Trade and Gender chapter in the renewed CUSMA and other gender-related provisions across the agreement, as well as provisions that promote and protect the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples. We noted that there could be an opportunity to pursue a side agreement with Mexico on Trade and Gender if the USA was not amenable to such a chapter. We note that Mexico is a positive force on gender equality and has already signed on to the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement. There may be an opportunity with Mexico to do more.

We also expressed our interest as OWIT-Canada to work with Global Affairs Canada and the OWIT chapters in the United States and Mexico to further promote women's participation in trade. With experience that we already have in leading trade missions in the region, we would like to work together with government and OWIT partners to further strengthen women's participation in trade in the region. In our submission, we also reflected concerns expressed to us by OWIT-Canada members, following our outreach to them. Our submission concluded by presenting a summary of our 12 concrete recommendations to Global Affairs Canada to advance women’s participation in trade in North America and increased benefit from CUSMA, namely:

1. Continue to pursue an inclusive and sustainable approach to trade in its trade negotiations with the USA and Mexico;

2. Re-affirm commitment to the existing gender responsive and inclusive provisions across the CUSMA, including in the Labour and SME Chapters, and ensure that there is no backtracking or cuts to these or other provisions that advance gender equality and inclusion;

3. Seek new ambitious chapters on Trade and Gender, Trade and Indigenous Peoples, and Trade and Responsible Business Conduct, and add new gender provisions in the SME chapter;

4. Conduct an early, comprehensive and ongoing Gender Based Analysis Plus of the FTA, seek stakeholder views on the initial GBA Plus report, and publish results of what was heard to promote accountability and transparency;

5. Provide Gender and Trade Advisory Group members, all stakeholders and Indigenous Peoples with regular updates on the progress of negotiations so that we may support Canada’s negotiating strategy development and ensure an inclusive outcome that leaves no one behind;

6. Work with OWIT-Canada to engage OWIT chapters in the USA and Mexico so that women can more effectively benefit from the FTA, including Indigenous women;

7. Produce a plain language companion guide for the Rules of Origin Chapter so that SMEs may more easily understand the originating rules governing trade;

8. Ensure that CUSMA, and our trade policy in general, more effectively promotes environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation and resilience;

9. Track gender provisions achieved in CUSMA so that they can be effectively implemented, monitored and evaluated to better achieve gender results;

10. Establish a Women in Trade Knowledge Hub modelled on the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub funded by the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy;

11. Convene a Women in Trade Conference during the annual CUSMA SME Dialogue; and,

12. Increase the awareness of its CUSMA trade partners that tariffs disproportionately affect women and vulnerable populations.

Building on our continued support of CUSMA over the years, OWIT-Canada remains committed to working with all partners to advance the participation of women in trade in Canada and in the North American region, and we stand ready to support Global Affairs Canada in any way in the CUSMA review and any negotiations that may follow.

International Chambers August Networking Event Recap

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:39:54 GMT

We had a lovely time meeting with various chambers.

Alexis was a fabulous host. Past President Audrey Ross gave remarks on behalf of OWIT Toronto.

We look forward to our continuing partnership.

OWIT Work Related to the G7

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:05:43 GMT

OWIT Work Related to the G7

By Georgina Wainwright-Kemdirim, VP Policy, OWIT-Ottawa

OWIT-Canada (Ottawa and Toronto chapters) issued a policy statement for G7 consideration in advance of the G7 Summit hosted by Canada in Kananaskis, Alberta in June 2025. Our statement aimed to meet the moment given the trade war with the United States and lack of specific recommendations related to trade in support of women workers, business owners, or consumers emerging from the W7 or B7 communiques. OWIT-Canada’s policy statement, therefore, was focused on issues that would advance the interests of women in trade in G7 members. In the statement, we recommended the following key actions by the G7:

Ensure that women workers and business owners are not disproportionately affected by tariffs or counter measures.
Ensure that all trade agreements remove barriers to participation and benefit women in all their diversity.
Establish innovative policies and programs to support women business owners in their entrepreneurship journey and participation in trade.

The G7 did not adopt any of our recommendations as indicated in the Chair’s Summary. The Chair’s Summary, however, did reference that G7 discussions were “informed by the recommendations of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC), which stressed the social and economic benefits of gender equality, and of all G7 engagement groups.” The GEAC recommended promoting gender equality to build more prosperous societies, and noted 70% of women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises have insufficient or no access to financial services, and the global financing gap for women entrepreneurs is estimated to be US$1.7 trillion, highlighting a significant, untapped economic opportunity. As a member of the W7 engagement group this year, OWIT-Canada was able to ensure that the W7 include a recommendation to the G7 to “provide tailored support for women entrepreneurs and ensure their equal access to finance, markets, and procurement opportunities, including public procurement.”

OWIT-Canada continues to participate on the W7 for the remainder of 2025. The W7 plans to work to advance its recommendations in the context of the G20 which is Chaired by South Africa in 2025. South Africa has selected the themes of Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability to inform and guide their work this year, and the W20 is one of 13 engagement groups active. The W20 has identified seven thematic task areas and Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion is one of them. OWIT-Canada plans to continue to promote increased awareness of women in trade at the G20 working with other OWIT chapters globally, particularly OWIT-International and OWIT chapters in Africa.

October 28-29, 2025: Grocery Innovations Canada Show – Canadian Women in Food

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:04:36 GMT

OWIT-Toronto members are invited to visit the Canadian Women in Food (CWIF) Booth #1919 at this year’s GIC Show from October 28-29in Toronto. Connect with inspiring women-owned food brands from across Canada and discover innovative products making waves in grocery and foodservice. Tickets are just $60 each – request and purchase your ticket by emailing CWIF at info@canadianwomeninfood.ca.

Where We've Been - OWIT at Brazil Week 2025

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 19:57:52 GMT

OWIT at Brazil Week 2025

By Lilian Marins

Ambassador Enio Cordeiro, Consul General of Brazil in Toronto, and Lilian Marins

OWIT Toronto was honoured to participate in Brazil Week 2025 in September, organized by our partner, the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce (BCCC). It brought together business leaders, policymakers, and trade experts to explore new possibilities for bilateral cooperation. Represented by board members Lilian Marins and Susan Baka, OWIT contributed to discussions that combined trade policy, economic opportunity, and the human dimension of international business.

From the opening sessions, one message was clear: this is a pivotal moment to strengthen Brazil–Canada partnerships. Brazil has achieved record trade surpluses since 2023, exporting to more than 190 markets — a diversification strategy that has proven resilient even amid U.S. tariffs. At the same time, Canada remains one of the most open economies to foreign investment, with provinces such as Ontario and Quebec actively attracting FDI through agencies like Invest Ontario and Investissement Québec.

The data tells a compelling story: in 2024, Brazil exported nearly CAD 10B to Canada, mainly metals, sugar, chemicals, and agrifood products, while Canada exported CAD 2.5B to Brazil, with fertilizers, machinery, and aircraft at the forefront. Canadian FDI stock in Brazil exceeds CAD 20B, while Brazilian FDI in Canada is growing steadily, particularly in mining, clean tech, and innovation. In the first half of 2025 alone, Brazilian exports to Canada rose 25% year-over-year, reaching US$3.4B.

Sectoral discussions during Brazil Week pointed to natural complementarities:

Energy & CleanTech: Canadian expertise in ESG mining and renewables aligns with Brazil’s ambitious energy transition.
Agriculture & Food Security: Brazil, a global food powerhouse, depends on imports of potash — over 90% from Canada and Russia — underscoring the importance of critical minerals to global stability.
Life Sciences & Innovation: Ontario’s biotech and medtech firms are already forging partnerships with Brazilian hospitals, demonstrating the potential for collaboration in healthcare innovation.
Smart Mobility & Technology: From aerospace integration to AI-driven agritech, innovation is a natural bridge between both economies.

Yet Brazil Week was more than figures and sectors. It was about perspectives that shape the future of trade. A particularly striking moment came when a McCarthy Tétrault speaker observed:“If you want to see a war, leave people hungry. We will reach the point where it’s no longer about trade — it will be about life." This reminder resonated deeply with participants: trade is not an abstract concept, but a driver of food security, peace, and human well-being.

OWIT is proud to have been part of these conversations, which also highlighted the role of women in international trade. The presence of ApexBrasil, represented by Ana Paula Repezza, Renata Amaral, and Tatiana Prazeres, reaffirmed that empowering women leaders is not optional; it is essential to building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable trade systems.

After three days of discussions, one conclusion stood out: the Brazil–Canada relationship is not just about trade flows. It is about building bridges, both economic and cultural, as well as human. OWIT Toronto, through the active engagement of board members Lilian Marins and Susan Baka, was proud to contribute to this dialogue and to reaffirm its mission: ensuring that women are central to shaping the future of global commerce.

OWIT-Toronto joined BCCTC’s "Let’s Talk – Clearing the Path to International Trade"

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 19:58:12 GMT

British Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce (BCCTC)

Mairead Lavery, Martin Buckle, Susan Baka and Gowling Partner Marcus Hinkley

As part of our commitment to collaborate with Chambers of Commerce in the city, OWIT-Toronto joined BCCTC’s Let’s Talk – Clearing the Path to International Trade event on October 1. Hosted by Gowling, it featured BCCTC’s VP Martin Buckle in conversation with Mairead Lavery, former President and CEO of EDC, who urged businesses and associations to weigh in on the debates around the 2026 CUSMA Review and advocate for the continuation of this free trade agreement that is so important to Canada. Gowling’s Hunter Fox noted that the 2026 Review does not mean that the agreement will expire, but if the parties do not confirm acceptance of an extension for another six years, it will revert to an annual review which will create continued unpredictability that is damaging to business confidence and economic growth.

Webinar Series – Spotlight On Exporting

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 20:05:00 GMT

The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade (MEDJCT) is launching a new free exporter information series which will cover key topics for Ontario businesses interested in establishing or expanding their global presence. Join select speakers and subject matter experts to learn how to translate global challenges into growth opportunities.

Currently announced webinars include:

Sept. 9: Free Trade Agreements & Tariffs (register here)

The first webinar will focus on how exporters can leverage Canada’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and implement practical strategies to offset the impacts of tariffs.

Oct. 23: Nearshoring & Supply Chain Realignment (register here)

The second webinar will explore how nearshoring and supply chain adaptation can help Ontario businesses navigate global trade uncertainty.

Trade Diversification Webinar Series

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 20:01:49 GMT

As part of the City of Toronto’s response to United States economic policy, this free webinar series will bring together industry experts to share insights and guidance on how businesses can expand and diversify their trade approach, enhancing long-term resilience. Registration is required, but attendance at all nine webinars is not – participants can register for the sessions most relevant to their business.

Webinar Schedule:

Diversifying to Export Markets 101 – Sept 11 @ 2 p.m. or Sept 18 @ 10 a.m.
Leveraging Government Support & Other Sources of Assistance for Exporters – Sept 24 @ 10 a.m. or Sept 30 @ 2 p.m.
Understanding Rules of Origin & Duty Drawback Programs – Oct 2 @ 2 p.m.
Financial Assistance for Importers and Exporters – Oct 8 @ 2 p.m.
Strategic Pricing & Competitive Advantage in a Tariff Environment – Oct 16 @ 2 p.m.
Digital Trade & E-commerce: Selling Online to International Customers – Oct 22 @ 2 p.m.
Legal Considerations & Trade Compliance for Exporters – Oct 30 @ 2 p.m.
Marketing Strategies in Diverse Export Markets – Nov 6 @ 2 p.m.
Case Studies & Success Stories – Nov 13 @ 2 p.m.

Learn more and register here.

UPS Webinar on U.S. Trade and Tariff Shifts

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 20:01:22 GMT

UPS hosted a webinar, “Navigate the New Norms: Essential insights on U.S. Trade and Tariff Changes for Cross-Border Shipping”, in August, outlining recent U.S. trade and tariff policy updates affecting cross-border shipping. These changes highlight the need for businesses to adapt their compliance and cost management strategies to stay competitive in the global marketplace.

Takeaways: Businesses should think of compliance as a strategic lever, not just a cost center. It’s time to shift from a checklist to a chessboard, thinking several moves ahead.

End of de minimis: The U.S. has eliminated its “de minimis” exemption, which allowed goods valued under $800 USD to enter the U.S. duty free. U.S. consumers will now pay duties on every shipment, regardless of value. This change will significantly affect e-commerce businesses that depended on the exemption to ship orders at a lower cost.

Compliance costs rising: As U.S. Customs strengthens its enforcement efforts, Canadian exporters should maintain clear documentation of product origins. Failure to accurately declare this information may result in penalties for importers.

CUSMA still matters: While CUSMA provides duty-free access for many goods, only products that meet the rules of origin and have updated certificates will qualify.

Consider operational strategies: Businesses can mitigate potential costs and delays by consolidating shipments, using digital tools to streamline the compliance process, and providing transparent checkout pricing for customers with duties upfront.

For more details on tariff updates and how businesses can adjust, visit the UPS website.

Changes to U.S. Customs Rules

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 19:57:41 GMT

Starting August 29, the U.S. suspended its duty-free “de minimis” threshold. All shipments entering the country, regardless of their value, must have duties prepaid before crossing the border. Most goods valued at $USD800 or less will be subject to duties of about 35%. For more information and to learn how Canada Post can support businesses in meeting these new requirements, click here.

OWIT at Trade Accelerator Program 10th Anniversary

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:30:00 GMT

OWIT at Trade Accelerator Program 10^th Anniversary

OWIT-Toronto participated in the World Trade Centre/Toronto Region Board of Trade Leaders in Export Excellence – Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) 10 Year Anniversary in Toronto in July. This partner event attracted over 150 TAP alumni and guests and honoured two women - Theresa Bailey of Starfish Synergies and Megan Shallow of BNL Media Consulting - for their export excellence.

OWIT-UK President on King’s Honour List

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:00:00 GMT

OWIT-UK President on King’s Honour List

Congratulations to OWIT-UK President Noreen Burroughes who has been awarded the prestigious Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List, recognizing her contributions to women in international trade and entrepreneurship. Noreen has played a leading role in women's economic empowerment through her policy contributions, grassroots advocacy, and partnerships with UK and international networks. She is also the founder of strategic marketing and advisory firm Market Accents and holds numerous board roles. As the incoming President of OWIT International, Noreen looks forward to continuing to champion the role of women in business development and trade policy. Read more.

OWIT-Toronto Represented at Partner AGM

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:19:31 GMT

OWIT-Toronto Represented at Partner AGM

Mégane Visette (OWIT VP-Partnerships) and Leyla Shahid ( OWIT VP-Membership) represented our chapter at the Annual General Meeting of one of OWIT-Toronto’s good partners, the Belgian Canadian Business Chamber (BCBC), at Dentons on July 10. The AGM was followed by a reception and an honorary distinction ceremony in recognition of Anne Popoff, CEO of BCBC, for her outstanding leadership and service to the Belgian-Canadian business community. Congratulations from OWIT-Toronto, Anne. Well deserved!

l-r: Mégane Visette, Anne Popoff, Leyla Shahid

Newsletter - Summer 2025

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 22:57:20 GMT

Past Events

Trade Social at Lavelle

OWIT Toronto hosted its signature Trade Social on June 9, 2025 at the stunning rooftop venue Lavelle, a gathering that brought together international trade professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders for an evening of meaningful conversation, connection, and collaboration. Set against the backdrop of Toronto’s skyline, this in-person event was designed not just as a networking session, but as a celebration of social capital, the trust, relationships, and shared values that serve as the foundation for opportunity and collaboration across borders and industries.

At the heart of the evening was a powerful reminder: networking is more than collecting contacts it’s about cultivating relationships with purpose. In a highlight of the program, Raquel Boechat, Board Member of the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce (BCCC), led guests through an intentional networking activity, inviting participants to move beyond small talk and engage in deeper, more meaningful exchanges. Her interactive guidance challenged attendees to ask better questions, seek alignment beyond business, and embrace authenticity in their connections.

The event also marked the official kickoff of a strategic partnership between OWIT Toronto and the BCCC, reinforcing a shared mission to support women and allies in global business. With more than 40 professionals in attendance from seasoned executives to rising entrepreneurs, the Trade Social proved that when we create space for people to connect intentionally, we unlock the true potential of community.

OWIT Toronto extends its gratitude to all attendees, partners, and volunteers who contributed to this inspiring evening. We look forward to continuing to build platforms that strengthen social capital, promote inclusive leadership, and empower women in international trade.

Where We’ve Been

Women's Entrepreneurship Forum

OWIT-Toronto exhibited at the 2025 Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum on June 18, hosted jointly by our partners, the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub and the City of Toronto, and attended by close to 300 women in business. Our Co-President, Susan Baka, moderated a panel of ecosystem players to discuss Transforming Your Business during Trade Uncertainties. They included Heather Barker, President of WBE Canada, Stephanie Fontaine, Regional Director, WEConnect International, Canada’s Chief Trade Commissioner Sara Wilshaw, who heads up the Trade Commissioner Service, and Lora Rigutto Vigliatore of the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT).

Here are a few of their tips:

Leverage all the resources available, including the Trade Commissioner Service, organizations like OWIT (Organization of Women in International Trade), WBE Canada, WEConnect and FITT, bilateral Chambers of Commerce, trade missions and CanExport funding.
Don’t give up on the US as an export market, despite strained relationships with our U.S. neighbour. The proximity and similarities still make it attractive.
It’s a good time to diversify, even beyond the U.S. Asia and Europe represent good potential markets that match the strengths of Canadian women exporters.
Research women’s associations and networks when travelling overseas because they represent a soft landing ground. Attend an event to meet contacts and forge potential partnerships.
Check out bilateral Chambers of Commerce to tap into Canada’s diaspora who have good connections in their home countries and can provide introductions and support.
Invest in yourself and your team to learn more about trade, whether that is through training or joining relevant associations or organizations.

Trade Diversification Series – Uncovering the CETA Opportunity

OWIT-Toronto exhibited at the ‘Uncovering the CETA Opportunity’ event, presented by the City of Toronto, on June 11, 2025. Attendees heard from government officials, trade experts, and key stakeholders about how Toronto region businesses—especially women-led enterprises—can tap into the EU market, Canada's second-largest global trading partner. With Canada-EU trade reaching $157.3 billion in 2023, the event highlighted new and expanded opportunities for international growth through the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union. OWIT-Toronto member Susana Vaz shares this summary of the event:

The event marked the official launch of #TradeTO – #Toronto’s Trade Diversification Initiative, with a strong focus on CETA and the new possibilities it opens up for Toronto businesses in the #EU market. The energy in the room was electric, with a fantastic turnout of entrepreneurs, trade experts, and industry leaders who came together for a morning of powerful conversations on how we can better equip City of Toronto’s business community to scale internationally.

Key takeaways from the panels:

CETA is a massive, underused opportunity for Toronto exporters — it’s time to change that.
Trade diversification strengthens resilience and reduces reliance on a single market or supply chain.
Support networks matter — businesses need coordinated services, mentorship, and access to market intelligence to succeed globally.

And if you’re looking to take the next step — the Trade Accelerator Stream - (Starter Company Plus Grant) has officially launched. It’s a tailored support program to help Toronto businesses explore the EU market with training, mentorship and a micro grant. Applications are open until June 30 — don’t miss out.

Trade Resources

Check out these new trade resources:

City of Toronto: Strengthening Economic Resilience Amid Tariff Challenges

As U.S. tariffs continue to impact Canadian businesses, the City of Toronto is stepping up with coordinated efforts to support local industries and protect jobs. Through a multi-level government approach, the City is working closely with both federal and provincial partners to drive a ‘Team Canada’ strategy that prioritizes economic stability, industrial resilience, and trade diversification.

Toronto’s initiative includes support for impacted sectors, enhanced economic intelligence gathering, and new trade programs tailored to help businesses navigate and mitigate the negative effects of foreign protectionist policies. With a sharp focus on inclusive recovery and long-term competitiveness, the City is actively seeking innovative solutions to protect its economy while identifying strategic global opportunities for its businesses.

Find out more

Ontario Together Trade Fund Supporting SME Growth and Supply Chain Resilience

The Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF) is a proactive funding initiative designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ontario adapt to global market changes, particularly those stemming from rising U.S. tariffs and international supply chain disruptions.

With an emphasis on near-term investments, the OTTF supports businesses that are reshoring critical components, developing new markets, and scaling up to serve interprovincial demand. This program is part of Ontario’s broader strategy to strengthen domestic manufacturing, reduce trade vulnerabilities, and increase the province’s economic agility.

Eligible businesses can apply for financial support to make capital investments, improve productivity, and boost their competitiveness in both Canadian and global markets.

Contact Lindsay Patel at lindsay.patel@ontario.ca if you need more info.

Bennett Jones 2025 Mid-Year Economic Outlook

As Canada faces mounting economic uncertainty driven by global tensions and policy disruptions, strategic planning is more important than ever. Bennett Jones’ 2025 Mid-Year Economic Outlook explores how Canada can build resilience, unlock growth, and diversify its trade relationships—especially in light of renewed interest in U.S. relations and internal market improvements.

The report analyzes key projections for GDP growth, inflation, and interest rates through 2027, while highlighting the opportunity to attract private investment and enhance national prosperity and security.

Read the Report
Access the Webinar

Canada-ASEAN Initiatives: Report on Geopolitical Risk and Trade Implications

The Canada-ASEAN Initiatives at the York Centre for Asian Research (YCAR) released its latest Security Symposium Report, which highlights the growing geopolitical uncertainties in the Indo-Pacific region and their potential impact on Canadian trade and investment strategies.

As ASEAN countries face evolving challenges from regional security dynamics and shifting global alliances, Canada’s strategic engagement in Southeast Asia becomes increasingly important. This report provides valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and business leaders seeking to understand how geopolitics may affect trade flows, supply chains, and market access.

Read the Report

G7 Canada: The Kananaskis Summit

G7 Canada: The Kananaskis Summit background book, put together by the G7 Research Group, based at the University of Toronto, is the official publication of the summit and was distributed widely there to many attendees, ranging from heads of state, ministers, academics and media. It contains a special section on trade.

As the G7 marks its 50th anniversary, Canada hosted the historic return to Kananaskis, convening leaders to confront global turbulence. The latest official G7 publication explores the summit’s key priorities: securing a safer world, advancing energy resilience, accelerating the digital transition, and forging future partnerships. With insight from PM Mark Carney, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President António Costa and many other global voices, this edition offers a bold call for collective action.

Read or download a copy here: https://bit.ly/g7Canada

#TradeTO – Trade Diversification Initiative,

The City of Toronto has launched #TradeTO – Trade Diversification Initiative, an ongoing series designed to equip Toronto’s business community with the insights, tools, and connections needed to expand globally and succeed in a rapidly evolving trade landscape. Sessions will be delivered throughout the year, each one focused on a different international market and free trade agreement (FTA). Check out the Starter Company fund grant https://cityoftoronto.tfaforms.net/forms/view/356989

MEET OUR VOLUNTEERS

[l-r:] Divyakanthi Pagolu, Grace Pham, OWIT member Priti Ruparel, Grace Pham

Welcome to Geetika Joshi, Divyakanthi Pagolu, Vivian Chiokwa, and Grace Pham - four incredible recent graduates who are volunteering their time to support one of our committees. Along the way, they’re gaining firsthand experience with Toronto’s dynamic and diverse trade community. Here’s what they have to say about OWIT-Toronto:

Grace Pham: “It was a pleasure to support OWIT-Toronto at the recent Trade Social Event at Lavelle. As a volunteer at the registration table, I had the opportunity to welcome guests, assist with event coordination, and engage with professionals from a wide range of industries. The experience allowed me to fully immerse myself in the inclusive and empowering atmosphere that OWIT fosters for women in international trade.

“The event opened my eyes to Toronto’s vibrant trade ecosystem and offered a powerful glimpse into the future of AI. Every woman I met brought a unique perspective and energy, making it a truly inspiring and high-value networking experience. A heartfelt thank you to Susan Baka, Susan Langdon and Alma Farias for their warm, thoughtful leadership—it was an absolute joy to work alongside such accomplished and supportive women.”

Vivian Chiokwa: “Volunteering with OWIT at its booth at the City of Toronto’s TradeTO event was a truly enriching experience. It was inspiring to engage with passionate leaders advancing global trade, and I felt proud to support such meaningful conversations on how OWIT is and continues to be a valuable resource, not just for women exploring business opportunities in Europe, but also for those seeking to expand globally.”

Divyakanthi Pagolu: “Volunteering with OWIT-Toronto has been an incredibly enriching experience. I particularly enjoyed connecting with so many inspiring women and gaining insights into international trade when I volunteered at the registration desk at a recent event. The OWIT community is vibrant and welcoming, and I highly recommend getting involved to anyone looking to grow professionally and make a positive impact.”

Geetika Joshi: “Being part of OWIT-Toronto has been such a meaningful experience so far. Helping with newsletters and website updates, I’ve already had the privilege of highlighting some incredible initiatives that are helping shape international trade. It has been really inspiring to see how much care, collaboration, and purpose are invested into every event and resource, and I am grateful to be part of a community that is so committed to uplifting each of its members. A huge thank you to Susan Baka for bringing me on board and making me feel so welcomed.”

Partner UpdateS

July 17: Leaders in Export Excellence - World Trade Centre Toronto

Leaders in Export Excellence (LiEE) is the World Trade Centre (WTC) Toronto’s flagship event that recognizes Canadian global business excellence. LiEE brings together over 200 business leaders, internationally minded Canadian SMEs, and high-level stakeholders from across the country for a dynamic evening of networking, exhibitions, and awards. Celebrate the outstanding achievements in Canada’s export sector on July 17, 2025 from 5 – 9 pm at 100 Queens Quay, E., Toronto

OWIT members can register at the event portal using the WTC–T Alumni discount code: WTC-T Alumni.

July 20: Canadian Made Market – Canadian Women in Food

Calling all foodies, flavour fanatics, and champions of local talent! This free event is a celebration of women entrepreneurs shaping Canada’s culinary scene through creativity, purpose, and passion. Explore a vibrant selection of savoury treats, sweet indulgences, and locally sourced, handcrafted goods. Meet the makers, hear their stories, and support a strong community of collaboration and empowerment.

Admission is free — reserve your spot now here!

The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) Urges the G7 Leaders’ Summit 2025 to Support Women in Trade to Advance G7 Priorities

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 21:16:23 GMT

The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) Urges the G7 Leaders’ Summit 2025 to Support Women in Trade to Advance G7 Priorities

Women business owners in Canada and globally contribute to achieving G7 priorities, particularly economic security, supply chain sustainability, and inclusive growth. In this time of increased protectionism, trade wars and economic coercion, women business owners are builders and innovators and must not be overlooked or disregarded in the calculations of the effects of tariffs and the design of trade adjustment measures. It is well known that economic upheaval disproportionately affects women.

As global champions of fairness, human rights and gender equality, and sustainable development, G7 members must promote responsible and inclusive trade policies that will drive economic resilience, sustainable development, and prosperity for all. OWIT Canada calls on G7 Leaders to:

Ensure that women workers and business owners are not disproportionately affected by tariffs or counter measures.

Ensure that all trade agreements remove barriers to participation and benefit women in all their diversity.

Establish innovative policies and programs to support women business owners in their entrepreneurship journey and participation in trade.

The G7’s leadership on businesswomen and women in trade is critical at this time and implementing these measures will demonstrate the continued importance of supporting women in trade and helping avoid any retreat on progress made in recent years.

Background:

The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) has been in Canada for over 25 years. OWIT Canada’s chapters in Ottawa and Toronto are professional not-for-profit volunteer organizations with over 2500 individual and corporate members across Canada. Their members are certified trade experts, business owners, service providers, and academics, and they provide information, education, capacity building, networking and mentoring opportunities. OWIT has an extensive network globally with 26 chapters spanning four continents, including chapters in most G7 economies, with 2 in Canada, 10 in the USA, and 3 in Europe, as well as chapters in Africa and Latin America.

www.owit-ottawa.ca

www.owit-toronto.ca www.owit.org

Contacts:

Nathalie Bradbury, President, OWIT-Ottawa

Susan Baka, President, OWIT-Toronto

Georgina Wainwright-Kemdirim, VP Policy, OWIT-Ottawa

info@owit-ottawa.ca

info@owit-toronto.ca

Newsletter - Spring 2025

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 14:30:09 GMT

Presidents’ Message

OWIT-Toronto: Your Voice in Today’s Rocky Trade Landscape

As co-presidents of OWIT-Toronto, we are honoured to represent our members and work towards providing you with the information and connections you need to not only succeed but to help you deal with the impact of the current global trade conflicts. Our fantastic Board is working very hard to deliver resources and quality contacts that will help you achieve your trade goals. This is more important than ever as the world navigates through these tumultuous trade times. That is one of the reasons why we invited Canada’s Chief Trade Commissioner, Sara Wilshaw, to our recent International Women’s Day event…and you can read more about it in this issue.

Our first quarter was indeed chockfull and we hope you were able to attend our – and our partners’ - events, read our newsletter and take advantage of some of our resources. A number of our Board members also represented OWIT-Toronto at various events to continue to raise the profile of women in trade. Despite these challenging times, we are excited about what lies ahead for our members and friends! See below for an update on our events and other initiatives in store.

We want to hear from you! If you have thoughts for future events, feedback from past events, or input you want us to pass on to government about how it can best support women as, please reach out to info@OWIT-toronto.ca. Remember that we are part of a global network with chapters around the world that can help you diversify your trade relationships and that is committed to being the go-to organization for women in trade.

Susan Baka & Cathy Williamson

OWIT-Toronto Co-Presidents

Looking for an Exciting Opportunity to Expand your Horizons?

Join the OWIT Toronto board, where a dynamic group of women are dedicated to providing education, resources, and networking for women doing business internationally, whether business owners, executives, government representatives, or service providers. We are currently seeking to fill the role of VP Membership – someone who is passionate about expanding our membership base and enhancing membership relations. This volunteer position is flexible, requiring minimal time commitment, and offers a fantastic opportunity to connect with a supportive and inspiring network of women entrepreneurs in the Greater Toronto Area. If you are interested, please reach out to info@owit-toronto.ca .

Coming Event

Save the Date: April 15, 2025 for Culture and Trade Event

Ever made a faux pas in your dealings with other countries? Wondering how to be culturally astute? Join us at the International Business University in Toronto on the evening of April 15 for an insightful session on The Impact of Culture on International Trade with Marvin Hough, an international business expert and author with decades of global experience. Gain practical insights into how culture impacts international trade—from marketing and negotiations to e-commerce and digital trade.

Date: April 15, 2025
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Location: International Business University, 80 Bloor St. W, Toronto, Ontario

About Marvin Hough

Marvin Hough brings over 30 years of international trade experience, including senior roles at Export Development Canada (EDC) in Asia and Latin America. He has worked in global markets such as China, India, Mexico, and Brazil, providing strategic insights on trade, marketing, and business culture. Following his tenure at EDC, he taught international business at the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management and served on various trade and academic boards. He has authored two books on global business, endorsed by the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT), and continues to mentor professionals in the field. Through his consultancy business, MIRA, he provides international research and analysis services to Canadian businesses, educational institutions, and government organizations focused on key strategic markets.

Space is limited. Register here.

Sponsored by International Business University

Past Events

Celebrating International Women’s Day

Our inspiring International Women’s Day event in March featured Sara Wilshaw, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, International Trade, and Canada’s Chief Trade Commissioner, in a fireside chat with OWIT Co-President Susan Baka. Discussion centred around the power of women in international trade and why NOW is the time to diversify! (Thanks to OWIT member Susana Vaz for contributing this.)

Why This Matters:
Women-owned businesses that export earn more, create more jobs, and drive economic growth.

Yet, women-led firms represent only 15% of exporters worldwide—it’s time to change that!
Diversification = Resilience. Expanding into new markets and industries ensures long-term success.

Key Takeaways:

Trade is a growth engine—Women entrepreneurs who export outperform those who don’t. We have 15 free trade agreements covering 51 countries - why aren’t we using these to their complete potential?
Diversity strengthens economies—Inclusive trade policies create sustainable, global opportunities.
Canada is leading the charge! With initiatives like Business Women in International Trade (BWIT), we’re unlocking new pathways for women entrepreneurs.
The future of trade is inclusive, diverse, and unstoppable—let’s make it happen!

Sara’s key piece of advice for women in international trade is to get out there, network and explore opportunities - the world is welcoming and there are plenty of resources available to support businesses. Rowena Ko, Trade Commissioner in the Toronto Regional Office,spoke to one of these, presenting an overview of what the Trade Commissioner Service | Service des délégués commerciaux offers. .

A big thank you to event sponsors – the City of Toronto and the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) www.wekh.ca – and to supporter Global Affairs Canada.

Virtual Event Presented by OWIT-Toronto and CanCham in Mexico

The 5th International Forum Women Leaders: Present and Future hosted a Women Empowering Trade: Success Stories & Future Visions webinar on March 13. The event, organized by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce – Monterrey in collaboration with OWIT-Toronto, welcomed over 50 attendees, predominantly businesswomen, including the Canadian Consul General in Monterrey, Mexico, Annabelle Larouche St—Sauveur.

The session featured two distinguished keynote speakers representing OWIT-Toronto: Clare Barnett, Director of Business Growth at the City of Toronto, and Susan Langdon, CEO & Executive Director of the Toronto Fashion Incubator. Both speakers shared their international trade experiences and insights, inspiring attendees with their knowledge, passion, and dedication to empowering women in business and trade. The webinar was masterfully moderated by Jaime Herrera, President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce - Monterrey.

Clare Barnett’s Vision for Collaboration
Clare Barnett kicked off the panel by emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the City of Toronto and major cities in Mexico. She highlighted opportunities in key automotive, auto parts, and high-tech sectors. Clare passionately shared how the Canadian community came together in support of each other during challenging times for international trade, creating resilience and opportunity. A particularly memorable moment was when Clare recounted her positive experience meeting American congress representatives in Washington, where she witnessed firsthand the power of building international relationships to foster growth and mutual support.

Susan Langdon’s Insights into Fashion Export
Susan Langdon brought a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing women in the fashion industry, particularly in terms of exporting products. She emphasized the importance of offering tailored workshops and webinars specifically designed for entrepreneurs in the creative sector. Susan pointed out that the fashion industry is not just about selling commodity products—it’s about offering value, creativity, and culture. She also acknowledged the challenges that the fashion sector faces, such as varying climates and time zones that can impact the suitability of products for different markets. Despite these obstacles, Susan sees immense potential in the trade relationship between Canada and Mexico, particularly in sectors such as fashion accessories, swimwear, and yoga apparel.

One of the panel's most emotional moments came when Susan proudly stated that Canada is recognized as one of the most ethical countries in the world, promoting sustainability and transparency in the global supply chain. This emphasis on ethical practices resonated deeply with the audience, underscoring the growing importance of corporate responsibility and sustainability in international trade.

Looking to the Future
Clare and Susan’s insights and experiences offered valuable lessons and inspired the audience to continue pushing boundaries and forging new paths in business.

Watch the full webinar

Trade Resources

Navigating the Current Trade and Tariff Environment

The current landscape for business owners in Canada is difficult to keep up with and can be very confusing. We hope the links below will help to provide some clarity, information and support to help you determine the best way forward for your business.

The City of Toronto, recognizing the potential impact of U.S. trade economic policies on local businesses, has provided resources to help navigate these challenges. Toronto’s official website offers information on the current tariffs and guidance for businesses affected by the U.S. measures. These developments highlight the complexities of international trade relations and underscore the importance of strategic responses to safeguard national and local economic interests. www.toronto.ca/tariffs. The City has released the Mayor’s Economic Action Plan in response to the change in US economic policy with ten immediate actions items to support Toronto businesses.
These BDC resources provide expert advice and financing tools to help you make smart decisions for your business.
This EDC tariff risk mitigation checklist will help guide your decisions and reduce the impact of various challenges business owners are facing.
Understand the import and export tariffs with Canada’s Free Trade Agreement partners. Ensure you are making informed trade decisions with this helpful business tool.
Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) helps businesses with funding and support programs to conduct international trade in 160+ cities around the world.
Check out the EDC Trade Impact Program which offers financial support for Canadian exporters in various ways over the next 2 years.

Where We’ve Been

From Canada to Mexico and beyond, here is where OWIT-Toronto has been represented this past quarter.

Alma Farias, a board member of OWIT-Toronto, represented our organization at the Mexico Women's Forum and Networking Reception hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 13, in celebration of International Women's Day.

OWIT-Toronto has maintained a strong, active partnership with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Monterrey since 2022, benefiting members of both organizations through the sharing of valuable knowledge in multiple webinars. During the event, Alma had the opportunity to meet with the newly-appointed Canadian Consul General in Monterrey, Annabelle Larouche St-Sauveur, to encourage collaboration with OWIT-Toronto as well as with other board members and invitees.

Pictured above from left to right: Angeles Vela, General Director of the Software Cluster of Nuevo Leon—CSOFTMTY; Canadian Consul General in Monterrey, Annabelle Larouche St-Sauveur; Alma Farias, OWIT-Toronto board member; and David Valle, Director of Business Development MX.

OWIT board members Mégane Visette, Cathy Williamson and Susan Baka participated in an upbeat International Women’s Day celebration organized by our partner, the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. We were also represented at the Asia Pacific Foundation’s 2025 CanWIN Global Summit (CGS): The Women’s Business Mission Series to Asia Capstone which explored paths forward for Canada to diversify its export markets into the dynamic Indo-Pacific region.

A March episode of Steve Paikin’s The Agenda featured OWIT-Toronto advisory board member Julie Nguyen, Chair of Canada-ASEAN Initiatives, York University, who highlighted opportunities for Canadian businesses with ASEAN countries. Catch it here.

Our Co-VP Events, Lilian Marins, and VP Partnerships, Mégane Visette, represented OWIT-Toronto at Women Inspire 2025, hosted by the Casa Foundation, and joined inspiring conversations centred on this year’s theme: “Accelerating Impact for Women.” The event brought together exceptional women leading change across sectors, including:

· Dr. Olutoyin Oyelade, President, Casa Foundation for International Development

· Dr. Julia Christensen Hughes, President & Vice-Chancellor, Yorkville University

· Kayla Isabelle, CEO, Startup Canada

· Sonya Shorey, CEO, Invest Ottawa

· Julie Ellis, Entrepreneur & Former Chair, Angel One Investment Network Canada

· MPP Andrea Hazell, Member of Parliament, Standing Committee on Finance & Economic Affairs

It was a privilege to engage in powerful dialogues and connect with trailblazing women accelerating business, policy, and community impact in Canada and beyond.

Above: A timely opportunity for Co-President Susan Baka to meet Canada’s current Prime Minister Mark Carney at a leadership event.

On February 20, OWIT members participated in the Pitch & Dine event organized by our partner Canadian Women in Food (CWIF). It was an amazing soirée in support of women-led Canadian food brands. Participants were part of a live audience for six pitches and dined on locally crafted cuisine. Congratulations to all the powerful pitchers!

Member News

A Perfect Match for the Mexican Market

An exciting strategic partnership has been announced between Sable & Rosenfeld, a renowned Canadian gourmet food brand, and Nookss, a leading Mexican commercial distributor dedicated to helping international brands thrive in Mexico. This collaboration marks the beginning of a successful journey to bring Sable & Rosenfeld’s premium products to the Mexican market.

This partnership began during the Grocery Innovations Canada Trade Show held in October 2024, a premier event organized by OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) to connect Canadian food brands with potential partners and distributors from around the globe. At the event, Myra Rosenfeld from Sable & Rosenfeld and Bernardo from Nookss had the opportunity to meet, thanks to the efforts of Fabiola Sicard, Economic and Business Advisor for the US & Mexico at OMAFRA’s Trade and Investment Unit and Alma Farias, on the board of OWIT.

The event provided the perfect platform for innovative collaborations, and this new partnership is a testament to the effectiveness of OMAFRA’s initiatives in fostering cross-border trade and investment in the agri-food sector.

Partner Updates

Our partners offer these valuable events and resources to OWIT members.

Belgian Canadian Business Chamber - Business Excellence Awards Gala 2025 - April 24

The BCBC Business Excellence Awards Gala is the largest networking event organized by and for the Belgian Canadian business community. Every year, it recognizes and honors businesses and business leaders who have made significant contributions to the economic health of our community. A unique moment to come together and to shine a light on those who have thrived and innovated over the course of the last 12 months. Get dressed up and camera-ready and join us for a night filled with powerful stories, a gourmet dinner, live entertainment, and networking with business leaders from Belgium and Canada! Tickets available via the following link. OWIT members are eligible for member price tickets.

B2Bee Match –Mighty Canada: Growth & Opportunity Summit | B2beematch.com – April 29

This half-day event on April 29 is designed to connect Canadian business owners, entrepreneurs and industry experts for strategic networking while facilitating meaningful conversation surrounding the challenges facing us today.

LumeSmart Earth Day Conference & Trade Show – April 15

OWIT-Toronto is proud to support the 10-Year Anniversary of the LumeSmart Earth Day Conference & Trade Show on April 15, held at MaRS Discovery District. Bridging Past, Present, and Future for Cleantech leaders, join us as we celebrate 10 years of innovation, empowering cleantech leaders, startups, and youth for a sustainable future.

As an OWIT-Toronto member, you can benefit from:

a 25% discount. Register here: https://lumesmartearthday.com/earth-day-event-registration-discount/
a chance to pitch during the Pitch Showcase — a great way to spotlight women-led innovation in cleantech and trade. Sign-up here: https://lumesmartearthday.com/earth-day-event-pitch/

Learn more about OWIT-Toronto's involvement over the years: https://lumesmartearthday.com/earth-day-community-organization-of-women-in-international-trade-toronto-owit-toronto/

Canadian Women in Food – Canadian Made Market – July 20

Mark your calendars for CWIF’s next event – Canadian Made Market - on July 20. Come discover local Canadian made products while supporting women entrepreneurs who are shaping the food scene. Register here: https://www.canadianwomeninfood.ca/event-details/canadian-made-market

Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub – 2025 State of Women’s Entrepreneurship Report

The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) annual State of Women’s Entrepreneurship (SOWE) research shows that women entrepreneurs are driving economic development, innovation, export and job creation.

Connecting Canada to the World: Year End Trade Update and AGM

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:10:00 GMT

Connecting Canada to the World: Year End Trade Update and AGM

Connecting Canada to the World, December 3. This December OWIT-Toronto event, combined with our Annual General Meeting and hosted by Bennett Jones, attracted an enthusiastic group and provided an inspiring and thought-provoking way to wrap up the year. Thanks to Susana Vaz, Senior Manager – Strategic Planning and Initiatives with the City of Toronto’ economic development team who provided this summary:

Wendy Cukier, Karima-Catherine Goundiam and Jessica B. Horwitz delivered insightful strategies for Canada’s role on the global stage and how women are contributing in this space, and the keynote by Fouzia Younis, British Consul General to Toronto was both real and inspiring. Her authentic leadership shines as a reminder of what women can achieve in international trade.

Top 3 Takeaways:
1️⃣   Own Your Expertise: Women have a vital role in shaping global markets—step into it with confidence!
2️⃣   Build Cross-Border Connections: Collaboration and networking are key to unlocking opportunities in international trade.
3️⃣   Lead Authentically: Fouzia Younis emphasized the power of staying true to your values while navigating the complexities of global leadership.

Women in international trade are transforming the global economy by bringing diverse perspectives, innovative solutions, and collaborative leadership to the forefront. If you’re a woman in international trade, don’t miss out OWIT is an incredible community that supports growth, learning, and connection. Now is the time to step into the spotlight, lead authentically, and drive change on the global stage!

Photo Credits Susana Vaz and Maria Marchyshyn.

Where We've Been

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 15:10:00 GMT

A round up of events attended by OWIT Toronto Board and Members.

Unlocking Canada webinar in October. OWIT-Toronto’s VP International Susan Baka shared tips on entering the Canadian market for OWIT members worldwide in this webinar presented by OWIT International.

Toronto Global Forum in October, an annual, high-level forum that attracts delegates from around the world to discuss trade and economic issues. OWIT-Toronto’s VP Communications Clare Barnett and VP International Susan Baka attended

Picture, Clare Barnett and Susan Baka, OWIT-Toronto Board Members with Connie Fusillo, City of Toronto, Economic Development.

Pictured: Toronto Global Forum, panel moderated by Laurel Broten, CEO Invest Canada

Ontario Economic Summit in Toronto in November. As part of our partnership with the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, President Audrey Ross, VP International Susan Baka and Co-VP Events Lilian Oliveira represented OWIT-Toronto at this annual Summit that provides insights into the economic priorities of top political and business leaders. Both this and the Global Forum serve as good events to raise OWIT’s public profile and recruit new members

Follow our Events Page for upcoming events.

OWIT TO x CanChamMonterrey: Geopolitical landscape of CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC partners

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 14:10:00 GMT

OWIT Toronto and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce - Monterrey Unite to Explore North America’s Evolving Landscape

Written by Aditi Chaturvedi

Guest Speakers:

Moderated by - Jessica B. Horwitz Partner at Bennett Jones

Diane Francis - Journalist, Author and Editor-at-Large for the National Post

Laura Macdonald - Chancellor's Professor in the Department of Political Science and the Institute of Political Economy at Carleton University.

In collaboration, OWIT Toronto and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce - Monterrey, Mexico, highlighted important developments reshaping the North American region. The discussions focussed on the interplay of global trends, including the implications of the U.S. presidential elections and Mexico’s historic election of its first female president. Her groundbreaking reforms are poised to redefine Mexico's socio-economic trajectory, offering profound benefits across North America. This collaborative dialogue emphasized the region’s evolving trade dynamics and the emerging opportunities for businesses and investors.

Panelists explored the challenges and benefits of economic and political integration, addressing contentious issues such as tariffs in the auto sector, GMO imports, and Mexico’s nationalist energy policies. Security and gender inclusivity were also central to the discussions, with advancements in Mexico acknowledged, but a need for broader enforcement and mechanisms to support underrepresented groups, including SMEs and women-owned businesses, highlighted.

The speakers examined the increasing influence of Chinese manufacturing investments and the growing pressure on Canada and Mexico to align with U.S. strategies aimed at reducing dependence on China. Changes in U.S. and Canadian immigration policies, with their unpredictable impact, were noted as a potential concern for maintaining global relationships.

Contentious topics such as supply management and the role of dairy farmers in Quebec were also addressed, with the upcoming Canadian elections expected to bring noticeable changes that could directly affect neighboring countries business relationships.

The discussion further delved into the evolving trade dynamics within North America under the CanCham, focusing on the challenges and opportunities leading up to the 2025 and 2026 review of the USMCA. CUSMA is seen as a pivotal opportunity for renegotiation, critical areas for consideration include environmental standards, digital taxation, and gender-based trade measures.

Panelists emphasized the vital role of trade associations in promoting inclusive trade, supporting member interests, and connecting businesses globally. The collaboration between OWIT Toronto and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce - Monterrey underscores the importance of dialogue in addressing challenges and unlocking opportunities, driving a more inclusive and prosperous future for North America.

Special Thanks to Alma Farias for organizing this event.

Import-Export Webinar “From Local to Global: Expanding Your Small Business through Import and Export”

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 03:43:57 GMT

Presented by the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre

Import-Export Webinar

“From Local to Global: Expanding Your Small Business through Import and Export”

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

10 am until 12 pm

==================================

10 am – 11 am

Getting Started with Exporting: Tools and resources to begin to think Global

Description:

This comprehensive session will equip small businesses with the knowledge needed to embark on exporting. It will cover key considerations for assessing export readiness, guide participants through conducting effective market research to identify lucrative international opportunities and demystify the export controls and compliance requirements. Attendees will learn how to develop a robust export strategy, utilize tools and resources for market analysis, and ensure adherence to necessary documentation and international trade regulations, paving the way for successful entry into global markets.

30 minutes presentation

30 minutes Q&A

==========================

11 am – 12 pm

Topic for Importing Session:

“Navigating Import Regulations, Procedures, and Documentation”

Synopsis:

This session will provide an in-depth overview of the key regulations and compliance requirements set by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for importing goods. Entrepreneurs will learn about the essential documentation needed for customs clearance and will be guided through the step-by-step process of importing goods into Canada. The session will also highlight common compliance pitfalls and offer practical advice on how to avoid them, ensuring a smooth and efficient import process.

45 minutes presentation

15 minutes Q&A

Speakers:

Sue Rauth – Director, Ontario Regional Office (ROONT) – Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)
Debbie Bermudez – Senior Program Officer, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Sue Rauth serves as Director within the Ontario Regional Office of the Trade Commissioner Service. In this role she leads a team of Trade Commissioners who support Ontario-based companies as they internationalize their business. For over 25 years she has been involved in counselling and collaborating with Ontario businesses across a variety of sectors in the international trade eco-system.

OWIT Toronto and Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce hosted the 17th Edition of Doing Business in Brazil

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 14:10:00 GMT

OWIT Toronto and Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce hosted the 17th Edition of Doing Business in Brazil. The event gathered Brazilian and Canadian experts to talk about the Brazilian Infrastructure Market, focusing on regulations, investment, opportunities and challenges.
The Doing Business in Brazil was designed to assist Canadian companies in gaining insights into the Brazilian market and establishing connections with key players in the Brazil-Canada international trade industry.

Speakers Included:

Marcia Nejaim., Regional Representative ApexBrasil in Sao Paolo and interim General Manager of ApexBrasil offices in North America.

Luis Felipe Q., Specialist Advisor, Construction and Infrastructure Exports Latin American and Caribbean Markets, Department Exports at Investissement Québec. Daniel De Falco Director, Infrastructure Latin America at Caisse de dépot et placement du Québec (CDPQ)

Andrea Gardella., Director and Principle Economist Alcance Solutions.

From Lilian Marins (Co-VP Events and attendee): The trade and investment relationship between our two countries is thriving, with Canada ranking 11th in foreign investment in Brazil. Canadian companies are significantly invested in Brazil's mining, infrastructure, clean energy, and agriculture sectors. Meanwhile, Brazilian companies such as Vale, Votorantim, BRF, and Gerdau have established a strong presence in Canada, creating thousands of jobs and generating revenue.

While Brazil is a land of immense potential, it is also a complex market that requires more than just financial investment. Understanding the language, culture, and business dynamics is crucial for success. Throughout my career, I have been privileged to work directly within Brazil, gaining the local knowledge and building connections necessary to navigate its markets. Now, living in Toronto, I am delighted to be able to contribute to building this essential and strategic bilateral relationship.

SAVE THE DATE!

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 14:00:00 GMT

Our signature event OWIT TO Export Awards Gala celebrates 3 Canadian women in the categories of Excellence Award for Leadership in International Trade, Exporter of the Year and Student of International Trade.
Start considering who in your network you can recognize. Past winners include Dr. Wendy Cukier, Christine Nakamura, Yvonne Robertson and Oluwayomi Dime.
Hosted at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre, join us for a luncheon with networking, a Special Guest Speaker and the Awards celebration.

Registration & Nomination details to follow shortly.

OWIT Toronto New Board Directors and Officer Announcement

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 03:30:00 GMT

Please welcome Karen Garcha, Susan Langdon and Mégane Visette as Directors of OWIT-Toronto, on the Board of Directors for 2024.

With new Officers of OWIT-Toronto:

Karen Garcha as Vice President, Membership
Susan Langdon as Co-Vice President, Events
Lilian Marins as Co-Vice President, Events
Mégane Visette as Vice President, Partnerships

Interim Board Appointments:

Karen Garcha, Board Member & Vice President, Membership

Karen is an international trade professional with 20 years of experience in business development within the financial services industry. Karen is currently a Senior Commercial Account Manager at Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) where she enables entrepreneurs across a broad range of industries to grow their businesses through financing and advisory support.

Previously, Karen was a Commercial Account Manager in the Mid-Market Segment team at Export Development Canada (EDC), where she managed a diverse portfolio of clients to become more internationally competitive by providing market intel, risk mitigation and trade finance solutions.

She holds Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com) degrees and is a certified Commercial Banking Credit Analyst through the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI).

Susan Keiko Langdon, Board Member & Co-Vice President Events

Susan Keiko Langdon, a Toronto-born, third-generation Canadian, was recently honored as a Member of the Order of Canada for her significant contributions to Canada's culture and economy. In 1994, Langdon shattered barriers by becoming the first racialized woman to assume a leadership role in the Canadian fashion industry when she joined the award-winning non-profit organization, Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI).

Langdon's journey is one of inspiration, marked by her unwavering dedication and mentorship. Her outstanding achievements have earned her numerous accolades, and she is renowned globally as a foremost authority on fashion incubation and entrepreneurship. Her career has been incredibly fulfilling, spanning roles as both a fashion designer with her own label and a part-time professor at local universities. Her impact as a leader, mentor, and volunteer has left an indelible mark on Canada's cultural landscape, making her a true role model for aspiring entrepreneurs and change-makers alike.

Mégane Visette, Board Member & VP Partnerships

Mégane is a bilingual public affairs professional specializing in government relations, fundraising, and international advocacy for inclusive socio-economic development. She’s currently Government Relations Manager at Futurpreneur, a national non-profit supporting diverse young entrepreneurs launch successful businesses, and the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance Sherpa for Canada. As Sherpa, she’s responsible for Futurpreneur’s G20-related mandate, including the recruitment, representation, and consultations of the annual G20 YEA Canadian delegations. Her focus has been on creating inclusive opportunities and dialogue on the global stage for/by diverse young entrepreneurs. She’s passionate about establishing partnerships for social and sustainable impact and advocating for intersectional equality and the defense of human rights throughout the global value chains. She has also worked for the Council of Ministers of Education, the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, HanVoice Support Association, and the NATO Association of Canada.

As VP of Partnership, Mégane hopes to leverage her non-profit experience and entrepreneurial network to create meaningful partnerships aligned with OWIT-Toronto’s mission & member needs. Export readiness, ESG monitoring, and trade literacy for early-stage/small businesses are also themes she’s eager to prioritize as a new board member.

New Officers

Lilian Marins, Co-Vice President Event

Lilian brings over 15 years of experience in the private and public sectors in Brazil and Canada, with four years of leading projects as an Executive Leader with the American Chamber of Commerce in Brazil. She is passionate about fostering collaboration within diverse teams and is an active mentor to entrepreneurs and SMEs.

She has a Masters in Business Management from FGV – Fundacao Getulio Vargas in Brazil and a Degree in Project Management and International Relations. Lilian speaks many languages, including Portuguese and is an Executive Master Coach.

Where We've Been

Sat, 22 Jun 2024 21:18:32 GMT

It’s been a busy year for OWIT-Toronto board members who participated as speakers and guests at a number of trade events organized by our partners and raised our profile. These included:

CAN-CHAM Monterrey (Mexico) Annual Women’s Forum in March: Women in Today’s World: Powerful Journeys featured a stellar panel of accomplished businesswomen from Canada and Mexico who shared their secrets to success and how they navigated the bumps along the way. As a result of a Collaboration Agreement signed with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce—Monterrey, Mexico—in March 2023, OWIT-Toronto was directly involved in selecting topics and recruiting two Canadian speakers for the forum. The messages delivered by Canadian entrepreneur Sahiza Hossenbaccus and by Clare Barnett, Director of Economic Development for the City of Brampton and OWIT-Toronto Board Member, motivated and kept the Mexican and Canadian audiences engaged. We will continue this successful collaboration in the coming Women Forums.

Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub’s March International Women’s Day event: Attended by some OWIT members, who participated in a roundtable on exporting and heard inspiring remarks from guest speaker Minister of Small Business Rechie Valdez.

Casa Foundation for International Development Annual Women Inspire Forum in March: In honour of this year’s International Women’s Day, Casa hosted this 5th edition of the forum as a celebration of women in business and leadership. OWIT Board Member Clare Barnett was invited to speak on a panel discussion - Presenting Case Studies of Women Entrepreneurs in Canada - Stories of Rising Entrepreneurs.

Supporting Women in International Trade event in April: Presented by the Delegation of the European Union in Canada and hosted by Dentons, this roundtable discussed trade promotion policies and instruments and shared best practices that support women’s participation in international trade under the CETA free trade agreement between Canada and the EU. OWIT VP International Susan Baka participated in a moderated panel Q & A on inclusive trade in action.

Belgian-Canadian Business Chamber’s Awards Gala in April. Several OWIT-Toronto members, including Justine Namara, Sue Rauth and KC Goundiam, attended this high-energy annual gala as part of our partnership with BCBC.

GroYourBiz EXCELerate2024 conference in Vancouver also in April. OWIT-Toronto President Audrey Ross joined fellow OWIT-International members for a panel on Going Global: The Road to Globalization.

City of Toronto May Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum 2024: Women Shaping Global Business. Anita Agrawal, a Past President of OWIT-Toronto and owner of Best Bargains Jewellery, participated in a panel on Growing Your Business Globally. She shared why she joined OWIT, not only because she is an exporter, but membership has also allowed her to gain trade knowledge, be introduced to experts to help transfer knowledge, and to find a ‘hype women’ who lifts her up and connects her with valuable contacts.

Social Mixer Event Recap

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:30:00 GMT

What a view!

Thank you to our attendees for joining us on Wednesday, June 12 to network, connect and converse. We enjoyed the summer weather and Toronto skyline view at stylish Lavelle.

OWIT Toronto President Audrey Ross and Board Members Myra Sable, Jessica Horwitz, Susan Baka and Cathy Williamson were on hand to welcome guests and share our passion for being part of OWIT.

As new guests arrived they were greeted by an O

WIT Board member and quickly folded into introductions and conversations. With the invitation for Members to bring a friend we welcomed many new faces.

With attendees representing private business traders, federal and municipal governments, chambers of commerce and some well known names in accounting and law it was a dynamic group. As per usual in Toronto, conversations were multi-lingual with a good portion of the group joining in discussion in Spanish.

Guests enjoyed the poolside views, nibbles including signature wagyu sliders, sushi, karaage chicken and Hawaiian inspired veggie nachos. The theme was hydration in the humid Toronto heat so water first, followed by guests favourites or Lavelle signatures. The Pomegranate & Apricot sangria and Passion Fruit Mimosa's seemed most popular. Your OWIT President enjoyed a server recommended non-alcoholic mix of pineapple, cranberry & soda water to stay cool.

Special Thanks to:

Glen, Kaye, Roman & Cody of Lavelle for being wonderful and attentive hosts.

Our Board, volunteers and members for their continued support.

Photo Credits: Audrey Ross, Maria Marchyshyn

OWIT Toronto & OWIT Ottawa attend 3rd CUSMA SME Dialogue

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 02:30:00 GMT

3rd CUSMA SME Dialogue hosted by Global Affairs Canada in Montreal in May. The event brought together SMEs and stakeholders from Canada, the US, and Mexico to delve into regional trade dynamics under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Themes like SMEs in value chains, inclusive trade, customs procedures, and more sparked dynamic discussions, fostering a full exchange of ideas among participants. Some key take-aways:
- Nearshoring: This represents a competitive advantage for SMEs.
- Shift Towards Services Exports: Notably, the trend towards service exports is gaining momentum, reshaping global trade landscapes.
- Empowering Underrepresented Group: There's a critical need to reimagine support structures for underrepresented groups, including women, youth, Indigenous communities, and minorities, to facilitate their participation in global trade.
- Awareness Gap on Available Resources: Many SMEs remain unaware of the abundance of resources at their disposal, such as the valuable support provided by organizations like our Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT)), which I represented at the Dialogue.
- Demand for Simplified Access to Resources: SMEs consistently express a desire for a centralized platform to access trade resources seamlessly, recognizing the complexities of navigating the market.

OWIT-Toronto’s VP of International Trade Susan Baka participated in a panel on Inclusive Trade, moderated by Claire Ehmann of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Kudos to Export Development Canada | Exportation et développement Canada for sponsoring the post-Dialogue reception hosted by OWIT-Ottawa and OWIT-Toronto and to Global Affairs Canada for its support. A terrific collaborative effort! “OWIT added a great dynamic to the CUSMA Dialogue and it certainly created a better wrap-up to the day to have a reception,” says Joanne Tognarelli EDC’s VP of Global Business Development, who welcomed reception guests on behalf of EDC. “It provided an opportunity for some final connections to be made.”

OWIT Toronto Call for Applications

Mon, 13 May 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Applications are now open for Board Member Roles and a variety of Committee roles:

Board Member vacancies

1 x Membership
1 x Events
1 x Communications

Apply by completing the nomination form by Wednesday May 22.

Email completed form and supplemental documents to: info@owit-toronto.ca

________________________

Committee Director / Co-Directors

Events
Social Media
Newsletter
Partnerships
Trade Policy
Volunteer Coordination
Etc.

General volunteers for events, social media, newsletter, partnerships, memberships, trade policy etc.

Apply for Committee Director / Co-Director / General Volunteers by sending an email with your area(s) of interest in subject to info@owit-toronto.ca

*Nominees MUST be members of OWIT Toronto.

OWIT TO BOARD NOMINATION FORM 2024.pdf

OWIT TO BOARD NOMINATION FORM 2024.docx

Job desc-VP Membership 2024.pdf

Job desc-VP Events 2024.pdf

Job desc-VP Communications 2024.pdf

Congratulations to OWIT-Toronto Members and Export Award Winners

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 23:55:24 GMT

Shamira Jaffer, CEO of Signifi Solutions an OWIT Export Award winner in 2017 for Woman Exporter of the Year, clinched the 2023 RBC Innovation Award at the 2023 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur. Awards.

OWIT-Toronto Past President and 2012 OWIT Exporter of the Year, Anita Agrawal, CEO, Best Bargains Jewellery/Jewels 4 Ever has been selected as one of the 2023 top 100 “most powerful women in Canada."

Board Opportunities with OWIT-Toronto

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 22:27:08 GMT

In January 2024, we will be looking for new members to join our board.

There are currently three vacancies including VP Events and VP Membership.

You will develop new skills: board management, organizing and hosting virtual/hybrid events, trade policy development, and communications (website design and newsletters).

Board members will be elected at our AGM on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.

You'll need to be a member of OWIT-Toronto, and can join within ten days of being elected. See our membership page for benefits and rates.

If you are interested in these roles, email Helen Hemmingsen (Past President) for more information.

A listing of current board members and their roles can be viewed at: www.owit-toronto.ca/board_members

Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub at Toronto Stock Exchange

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 00:04:01 GMT

On November 17, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) and the Ontario government joined Cheryl Graden, of the TMX Group, to open the market and celebrate Women’s Entrepreneurship Day.

Held annually on November 19, Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is a day on which the work of women entrepreneurs is celebrated. OWIT-Toronto Co-President, Audrey Ross, and Board Members, Jessica Horwitz and Susan Baka, attended.

Women Trade Leaders Recognized at Awards Ceremony

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 19:11:20 GMT

The full-house celebration at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre recognized and celebrated the achievements of women in international trade.

Congratulations to our outstanding award winners and to all nominees for their continued dedicated work in international trade.

Student of International Trade Award – Oluwayomi Dime

Oluwayomi is a student at Centennial College, and works for a Nigerian manufacturing company. She has leveraged knowledge from international marketing and innovation lectures to enhance social channels. Oluwayomi has demonstrated a keen understanding of cultural diversity, beliefs, and values. She adapts to cultural norms such as respecting Chinese New Year and observing Islamic prayers in Turkey, for effective community and collaboration.

Woman Exporter of the Year Award – Patra De Silva

Patra is the President of NHV Natural Pet Products, and exports veterinarian-formulated herbal supplements to 55 countries. The company has achieved export revenues of over ten million Canadian dollars.

Patra has established B2B partnerships with distributors in key markets such as the USA, Japan, UK, France, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. She is the BC Chapter president of the International Women’s Forum, contributing to women’s leadership globally. NHV Natural Pet Products is based in Vancouver.

Excellence Award for Leadership in International Trade – Dr Wendy Cukier

Wendy is the Founder and Director of the Diversity Institute Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub at Toronto Metropolitan University. Wendy is an advocate for women and equity-deserving groups in entrepreneurship, international business, and trade. She is influential in raising awareness about the barriers faced by women in trade and advocating for inclusive trade practices. Wendy is amember of the Global Affairs Gender and Trade Advisory Group, working to include gender chapters in Canada's global trade agreements

From left to right: Clare Barnett, Brampton Economic Development; Jessica Horwitz, Bennett Jones; Oluwayomi Dime, Centennial College; Patra De Silva, NHV Natural Pet Products; Dr. Wendy Cukier, WEKH; Shay Lowe, WEKH

About OWIT

The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) is an international non-profit professional organization, with chapters around the world (www.owit.org), dedicated to advancing global trade opportunities for women. There are two Canadian chapters: Toronto (www.owit-toronto.ca) and Ottawa (www.owit-ottawa.ca).

Small Business Week Event at Entrepreneurs' Point

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 22:36:42 GMT

In support of Small Business Week, OWIT-Toronto hosted a Fall networking events in October 18th in partnership with Entrepreneurs Point for OWIT-Toronto members and non-members. Co-President Audrey Ross and VP Events Aliaa Al Safarjlani organized and attended the event with our hosts at Entrepreneurs Point.

OPEN: Call For Nominations for 2023 OWIT-Toronto Export Awards

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 22:00:00 GMT

OWIT-Toronto is proud to recognize the achievements of women who, through their careers and personal commitments, foster international trade and the advancement of women in business.

We are now accepting nominations for the 2023 Export Awards for:

- Excellence Award for Leadership in International Trade

- Woman Exporter of the Year

- Student of International Trade

Nominate your favourite leader, exporter and/or student here ! The deadline for nominations is Friday, November 3, 2023 at midnight.

We are excited to be hosting our Export Awards in person on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre (OITC), 250 Yonge Street, Eaton Centre, Toronto, from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm.

Watch our Events Calendar for further details including our special guest speaker and registration.

Registration details will be available soon.

Please contact Helen Hemmingsen if you have any questions or need further information about the nominations for OWIT-Toronto's Export Awards.

Discover the power of B2BeeMatch new features Trade Missions and Events!

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 01:30:29 GMT

Discover the power of B2BeeMatch new features Trade Missions and Events!

The Ontario Aerospace Council recently utilized the B2BeeMatch platform to coordinate a highly successful Paris Air Show 2023 at the prestigious 2023 Paris International Airshow. They efficiently managed the entire trade mission process, from creating the mission, sending out invitations, and sharing essential documents, to facilitating one-on-one meetings between participants and tracking attendance.

In another success story, NGen effectively utilized B2BeeMatch to establish connections between tech and manufacturing firms, fostering productive funding discussions and driving growth within the Electric Vehicle industry.

Are you planning your next event and in need of assistance? Look no further than B2BeeMatch - the ultimate platform for virtual, in-person, or hybrid events worldwide! For more information, please visit: http://www.b2beematch.com/enterprise.

What’s B2BeeMatch?

B2BeeMatch is an AI-driven business networking platform that helps businesses save time, money and effort. The platform facilitates tasks such as generating leads, meeting clients, hiring and offering professional services, outsourcing projects, finding partners, discovering opportunities, and attending industry events and trade missions.

Turkey Highlighted at Roundtable

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 04:31:25 GMT

OWIT-Toronto participated in a spring roundtable with Canada’s Consul General in Turkey, Tara Scheurwater. Organized by the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) and hosted by DMZ, the event highlighted the trade relationship between Canada and Turkey. Here is what the CG relayed about Turkey and about the opportunities there for Canadian exporters:

- Canada’s office in Istanbul is trying hard to increase the relationship with Turkey.

- There is currently $4.4 billion of annual trade between our two countries, with a lot more that can be done. Canada’s exports to Turkey are mostly lentils and metal.

- Geographically, Turkey has a strategic location to the EU and Asia, and is also a G20 member.

- Sectors with good opportunities for Canadian exporters include agritech, cleantech, digital education, life sciences, mining, aerospace and infrastructure.

The Consul General encouraged the roundtable participants to let the Consulate know when visiting Turkey and other countries. They may want to put Canadian women exporters in front of young women to showcase successful role models.

Session with U.S. Department of Commerce Kicked Off

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 20:58:46 GMT

On March 23, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Commercial Service with Global Diversity Export Initiative and the International Trade Association, hosted Selling to Canada: Insights & Resources for Women Owned Small Businesses. OWIT VP International Susan Baka spoke on the panel to share resources in Canada like OWIT. Other panel members included Diane Farrell, U.S. Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade, who directs the International Trade Administration. Over 300 registrants helped launch the beginning of the relationship with the U.S. Federal government agencies focused on women and exporting.

From the Co-President's Desk

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 20:53:16 GMT

Hello and welcome to the second edition of our newsletter this year.

The first half of the year has been an eventful one for OWIT-Toronto with engagements across various sectors, thematic areas, and countries. An engaging Annual General Meeting ushered in new Board Members with tremendous credentials and a robust Strategy Meeting reinvigorated our work, expanding on our vision in light of the global economic outlook with a concrete forward look on advancing women in international trade.

We are gearing up for the second half of the year and would like to take this opportunity to reflect on some of our accomplishments.

After a successful Annual General Meeting, we welcomed new Board Members, Clare Barnett as our VP Communications, Jessica Horwitz as our VP Legal and Secretary, and Myra Sable as one of our Directors. We also bid farewell to Aylin Lusi, one of our Directors who has been an integral part of our Board, supporting the success and visibility of OWIT-Toronto. To Aylin, we thank you wholeheartedly.
We were pleased to welcome the newest member of our Trade Policy Committee, Jessica Horwitz, to strengthen our work in supporting inclusive trade policy.
We rolled out key partnerships with Futurpreneur to champion the power of entrepreneurship in Canada and with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico, CanCham Monterrey to advance international business success for women entrepreneurs, executives and service providers.
Our Board Members have been busy representing OWIT-Toronto on different platforms and in different countries, continuing to move the dial on advancing women in international trade.
An inspiring Strategy Meeting set the tone for our work this year and for advancing our vision of promoting women doing business internationally and enhancing the status and interests of women in global trade.

In this issue, you will hear more about our new partners, Futurpreneur and CanCham Monterrey, where we have been, what’s coming up and the impact of our engagements. You will get a glimpse of what it is like to be an OWIT-Toronto Board Member, as well as part of the OWIT-Toronto family.

Looking forward, there is still so much work to be done. For the second quarter of 2023, there has been a prediction of a slowdown in global trade growth, pointing to recently downgraded world economic forecasts and factors such as persistent inflation, financial vulnerabilities, the war in Ukraine and geopolitical tensions.

With these challenges, our dedicated Board of women at OWIT-Toronto are ready to provide more insightful programming; educational talks and policy inputs to help women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses to expand their global footprint.

We would like to thank you all for your continued commitment and partnership. We believe that together we will achieve a greater impact. We look forward to seeing you at one of our events this year and please, do keep an eye out for all our upcoming events!

Audrey Ross

Co-President

Trade Policy Committee Update

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 03:01:41 GMT

OWIT-TO’s Trade Policy Committee has completed two submissions to the federal government this year: one on Canada’s engagement in the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) and a second one on Canada’s economic cooperation engagement with Africa. APEP will not include tariff reductions or new market access, but instead seeks standards and initiative-based commitments. It aims to enhance economic engagement, while supporting Canadian foreign policy priorities and contributing to other commitments. The Canadian Government is also committed to facilitating increased and diversified trade and investment with African partners in line with Canada’s export diversification strategy.

Our Committee also provided input for OWIT Ottawa President Nathalie Bradbury’s appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade in Ottawa on April 27, 2023, where she represented both chapters.

Welcome to the newest member of our Trade Policy Committee, Jessica Horwitz of Bennett Jones.

Mexico Collaboration Agreement

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 21:20:31 GMT

During the celebration of International Women's Day, on March 9, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico, Capituló Monterrey, held the Executive Leaders, Present and Future Forum, where Jorge A. Arrambide Montemayor, President of CanCham Monterrey, together with Alma Farias, Director of Organization of Women in International Trade - Toronto, signed a Collaboration Agreement to further the partnership of the two organizations. The Agreement will offer members additional contacts and information on CUSMA opportunities through our new partner CanCham Monterrey.

OWIT-Toronto Partners with Futurpreneur Championing the Power of Entrepreneurship

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 21:11:30 GMT

OWIT- Toronto is partnering with Futurpreneur to champion the power of entrepreneurship especially for female entrepreneurs kickstarting or looking to expand their businesses internationally. The partnership seeks to leverage existing resources to enhance international business education, mentorship and networking opportunities for women entrepreneurs, professionals and trade experts within the context of Futurpreneur’s annual representation at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance (G20 YEA).

Futurpreneur is the only national, non-proﬁt organization that provides inclusive ﬁnancing, mentoring and support tools to help diverse young aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18-39 launch, grow, and acquire successful businesses across Canada. Futurpreneur’s internationally recognized mentoring program hand-matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 2,400 volunteer mentors, which OWIT-Toronto members can join.

Fostering the entrepreneurial passions of Canada’s young enterprise since 1996, Futurpreneur is also the co-founding member and Canadian representative of the G20 YEA. In advance of every G20 Leaders’ Summit, the G20 YEA brings together hundreds of the world’s top young entrepreneurs to advance youth entrepreneurship as a driver of economic growth, innovation and social change. The Summit allows young entrepreneurs to become part of a network of champions for youth entrepreneurship, sharing ideas and proposing solutions on issues of importance while advancing their businesses’ international growth and exploring trade opportunities.

Speaking at the delegation briefing for the 47 bright and young entrepreneurs representing Canada as part of the G20 YEA summit delegation to New Delhi, India, Priti Ruparel, VP Membership of OWIT-Toronto, warmly welcomed this collaboration. “OWIT-Toronto is very pleased to partner with Futurpreneur to champion the entrepreneurship mindset of young Canadians. OWIT-Toronto offers an avenue for young entrepreneurs to network with like-minded successful and established entrepreneurs who can mentor and offer support in their business’ international growth”.

Providing more practical insights in doing business with India and how to increase their businesses’ visibility, Anita Agrawal, business owner, Jewels 4 Ever, and OWIT-Toronto member and past President also discussed building relations with Indian stakeholders including the focus on cultural nuances and leveraging support from the Canadian trade office present in India.

OWIT-Toronto’s partnership with Futurpreneur includes supporting G20 YEA Canadian delegation activities including delegation briefings, providing thought leadership and support for promoting inclusive trade. The partnership also provides the opportunity for the diverse Canadian G20 YEA to tap into OWIT-Toronto’s global networks, resources and export education to support their businesses going global. OWIT-Toronto and OWIT members can contact info@owit-toronto.ca to provide volunteer mentoring services to young diverse Canadian entrepreneurs and non-members can sign up to be part of a dynamic world-wide organization advancing women in international trade and take advantage of ongoing robust training offers.

Collision 2023 - Innovate with Canada B2B Program - June 20-29, 2023

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 18:30:00 GMT

Are you a Canadian tech company primed for global expansion? Join the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) Innovate with Canada B2B Program, which will take place on the margins of Collision 2023, one of the world’s fastest growing tech conferences.

In 2022, the TCS and its partners recruited more than 200 qualified foreign companies and VC investors from the United States, Europe, South America, Asia and Africa, facilitating 750+ business meetings and many new business connections and leads for our Canadian clients. Last year, international corporations such as Volkswagen, General Motors, Samsung, Siam Cement, and Mitsubishi Corporation, as well as VCs such as Allstate Strategic Ventures, TechNexus, Prosegur Tech Ventures, Sony Ventures and Genting Ventures participated in the TCS Collision B2B Program.

Date: June 20‑29, 2023

Location: Virtual and in‑person at the Beanfield Centre, Toronto, ON

Details: There are two components to our B2B program this year. You are invited to participate in one or both:

· June 20‑22: Virtual B2Bs between Canadian companies and international delegates

· June 27‑29: In‑person B2Bs between Canadian companies and international delegates at the Beanfield Centre*

This program is open to Canadian tech companies across Canada. There is no cost to participate in the TCS Collision B2B Program. If you intend to take part in in‑person meetings from June 27‑29, you will need to purchase a Collision Conference ticket to access the B2B meeting site (Beanfield Centre). You do not need a Collision Conference ticket to take part in the virtual B2Bs from June 20‑22.

Interested companies must apply by April 28, 2023. Apply now!

To qualify for TCS services and programming, companies must demonstrate:

Meaningful economic ties to Canada
Capacity for, and commitment to, internationalization
Potential to contribute significantly to the Canadian economy

Please note: International companies with only sales offices in Canada do not qualify for TCS services.

2023 State of Women’s Entrepreneurship Report

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 18:00:00 GMT

In Toronto on March 20, The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub presented the key findings from WEKH’s 2023 State of Women’s Entrepreneurship Report.

"Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for almost 90% of private sector employment in Canada. Entrepreneurs play a critical role not only in job creation and driving innovation and growth, but also in advancing social development and sustainability. Women entrepreneurs often face heightened barriers and have borne a disproportionate burden of the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastating impact; however, government, industry and other stakeholders worldwide are committed to advancing their success.

New research this year highlights the importance of rethinking how we assess the economic impact of SMEs generally and women entrepreneurs in particular. Additionally, there is continued evidence of broader contributions to the United Nations sustainable development goals and net-zero priorities. Canada’s unique Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) has provided a “whole of government” approach to support diverse women entrepreneurs. The strategy focuses on three major components: access to capital; strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem; and knowledge and research, which includes the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) to provide evidence to shape policy and practice."

Above: OWIT Toronto Board Members, Cathy Williamson, Jessica Horwitz, Justine Namara and Audrey Ross, with Minister Mary Ng.

OWIT International Women's Day - From Equality to Equity: Enhancing Opportunities for Women in International Trade and Business

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 19:00:00 GMT

A special OWIT International Women’s Day panel highlighted the voices of OWIT leaders and Chapter Presidents from Africa, the Americas and Europe. The panelists shared their perspectives and experiences on the theme of this year's International Women's Day in the context of their work in international trade and business.

Panel discussed:

- Shared experiences of women in international trade and business in your region in alignment with the IWD theme.
- Proposed strategies for adoption by Governments and policy makers in your region and explore ways in which the international trade landscape could be made level so as to create a more equitable space for women to trade and do business.
- Amplified the voices of women leaders in international trade.
- Showcased the contribution of OWIT Chapters

Moderator was Kyesubire Greigg, Vice President of OWIT International and the Panel included: Audrey Ross, Co-President of OWIT Toronto, Achu Blessing Ebere, Vice President OWIT Nigeria and Noreen Burroughes Cesareo, President of OWIT UK.

Where We've Been - International Women's Day, March 8

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 11:18:36 GMT

To mark International Women’s Day, OWIT Toronto Board Member Susan Baka participated in a Roundtable with Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development with Isabel Hudon, President of the Business Development Bank of Canada, in Ottawa.

Also on March 8th, Minister Ng announced the recipients of funding under the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy. Nearly $7 billion is to help remove systemic barriers women face in accessing the financing, resources and networks they need to start up, scale up and reach international markets.

Above: Isabel Hudon BDBC, Nathalie Bradbury, OWIT Ottawa President, Susan Baka, Jenna Stubbs, MP Kanata-Carleton, Parliamentary Secretary for Women, Gender Equality and Youth.

Women Inspire Forum 2023

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 19:00:00 GMT

In honour and celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, Casa Foundation hosted the 4^th edition of Women in Business and Leadership Women Inspire Forum.

This Annual Forum was created to support women-owned businesses while empowering women to run businesses through connecting resources (social, capital, human) to ideas. The theme of this year’s edition was “Embrace Equity: Enabling aspiring leaders for the future”.

Attending OWIT Board Members Aliaa Alsafarjlani, Priti Ruparel, and Casa Foundation’s Olutoyin Oyelade.

Canada Women's Trade Mission to the UK - March 2023

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 19:38:38 GMT

In recognition of International Women's Day, Canada's Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, the Honourable Mary Ng, will lead a women-focused Canada Trade Mission to the United Kingdom, March 13-16, 2023.

The United Kingdom is Canada’s largest export market in Europe, founded on a broad and extensive relationship built on shared history, values and strong economic ties. In March 2022, Canada and the UK announced the launch of negotiations towards a Canada-UK free trade agreement (FTA) that is inclusive and sustainable and ensures that everyone benefits from trade, including women, Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized entrepreneurs, 2SLGBTQIA+ and youth.

Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service is seeking women-owned and women-led businesses in technology-based sectors to join the business delegation. If you are a women-owned or women-led business in the technology space looking to expand in the United Kingdom, this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

Date: March 13-16, 2023

Market: United Kingdom

Sectors: Technology-based sectors – Clean technologies, ICT, Life Sciences

Target audience: Women in technology

WHY THE UNITED KINGDOM?

While the FTA is being negotiated, Canadian exporters continue to have preferential access to the UK market through the Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA). The TCA preserves the main benefits of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), including the elimination of tariffs on 98% of products exported to the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom is Canada’s most important science, technology and innovation (STI) partner in Europe. This importance is underscored in the comprehensive Canada-UK Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate further bilateral STI cooperation.
Technology (ICT) businesses are at the heart of the UK economy with a turnover of $312.8 billion while sustaining 1.6 million jobs. There are significant opportunities for Canadian exporters, especially for innovations in: artificial intelligence; internet of things; enterprise software; e-commerce; cloud/edge computing technologies; cybersecurity; and health technologies.
The U.K. ranked second globally for start-up investments in the first half of 2022, after the U.S. During that period, the U.K. had raised double the funding of any other European market.

WEConnect International Certificate for Women Business Owners in Canada

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 20:11:57 GMT

As of January 4, 2023, WEConnect International is offering a 3-year certification, from 1 year, to bring added value to women business owners in Canada who wish to make connections with corporate buyers and/or take advantage of their globally recognized women owned logo. For all the details see their global Announcement.

In addition to the above, WEConnect International has lowered the certification price point for small businesses with annual revenue under $1M. Women business owners interested in learning more are welcome to attend one of the January WECommunity Chat sessions, offered every Tuesday at 12pm ET.

Join WEConnect at International Day in 2023 in Nashville.

For more information, email Stephanie Lafontaine, Regional Director for Canada and the US, at sfontaine@weconnectinternational.org

Roundtable with the Vietnam Trade Office in Canada and the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 19:05:35 GMT

OWIT-Toronto participated in a roundtable in December organized by the Vietnam Trade Office in Canada and the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council. Guest speaker, the Hon. Jean Charest, Partner with McCarthy Tétrault and Honorary Chair of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council, highlighted the long-term relationship between Canada and Vietnam and said the country offers many opportunities for Canadian companies, particularly with the new Indo-Pacific Strategy.

OWIT International Welcomes Ghana

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 19:21:02 GMT

International welcomes Ghana as the newest chapter to join the international network. In the pipeline are Tijuana, Eswatini and Tanzania….Happy Her Hour is a casual bi-monthly virtual event held during the noon hour that provides an opportunity for OWIT members to network with others from chapters around the world. Check www.owit.org for the next one.

Women Trade Leaders Recognized at Awards Ceremony

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 19:00:00 GMT

Dr. Olutoyin Oyelade, founder of Invcap Corporation and Casa Foundation, and Debra Steger, retired Emeritus Professor of International Trade at the University of Ottawa, tied to receive this year’s prestigious Excellence in Leadership in International Trade award presented at the Organization of Women in International Trade – Toronto Chapter (OWIT-Toronto) – Export Awards Luncheon, held at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre on December 1, 2022. This award recognizes outstanding women who, through their business and personal networks, act as a trade advocate and mentor for women, fostering opportunities that actively support women entrepreneurs or professionals in achieving success in international business.

Dr. Oyelade provides financing support, mentorship, and partnerships to women-owned businesses through Invcap Corporation & Casa Foundation. Since 2015, Dr Oyelade’s Invcap has continued to support women with their capital-raising ventures and strategies. Over 200 businesses received pitch training during the pandemic. In 2018, she helped establish EntrepreneursPoint, an incubator for women, youth, and start-ups, that facilitates partnerships and new connections for growing women-owned businesses across Canada and internationally, with a focus on Africa.

Ms. Steger has mentored more young female international trade law students and lawyers at the University of Ottawa than can be counted. She is on the Gender and Trade Advisory Committee of Global Affairs Canada, and the Advisory Board of TradeExperettes, a network of women trade experts that seek to highlight the voices of women in international trade. She has supervised trade and gender projects including the drafting of the model trade and gender provisions for free trade agreements. Debra has also written numerous articles on gender and trade while being a tireless advocate for women’s voices in business and in law.

Yvonne Robertson, CEO of Matrix Power Services Ltd. and Sahara & Co, clinched the Woman Exporter of the Year Award. Her company, Matrix Power Services Ltd., distributes power products to business customers in the aerospace, telecom, utilities, and subsea industries. Under her strategic leadership, the company has expanded its export model to supply its products to North and Central America and other markets.

The winner of the Student of International Trade Award is Natalie Jiang of Centennial College who has successfully led several projects in international finance. The former Lufthansa employee has completed her Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association Certificate and is passionate about working in the FinTech industry.

Other highlights of the Awards’ afternoon included an engaging fireside chat with the Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, Chair of the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada and Executive Advisor, International at Deloitte Canada, and a congratulatory message from Charmaine A. Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, Ontario. Mr. Pettigrew reinforced the significance of the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the importance of enhancing trade with Asia. He strongly commended Canada’s reputation in international trade as excellent, highlighting how “we punch above our weight in trade”. Ms. Williams congratulated the winners and nominees of this year’s awards and reiterated the importance of uplifting women in international business and women’s economic empowerment.

The successful, sold-out OWIT-Toronto Awards Luncheon 2022 was sponsored by Borden Ladner Gervais, Bennett Jones, UPS, Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, BMO, City of Toronto, KPMG, Jewels 4 Ever, Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada, and Orchard Custom Beauty.

About OWIT

The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) is an international non-profit professional organization, with chapters around the world (www.owit.org), dedicated to advancing global trade opportunities for women. There are two active Canadian chapters: Toronto (www.owit-toronto.ca) and Ottawa (www.owit-ottawa.ca).

Canada Launches Indo-Pacific Strategy

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 22:00:00 GMT

Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy identifies 5 interconnected strategic objectives including expanding trade, investment, and supply-chain resilience.To foster open, rules-based trade and support Canada’s economic prosperity with the Indo-Pacific region, Canada will invest $244.6 million.

OWIT-Toronto Welcomes New Co-Presidents

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 04:02:39 GMT

OWIT-Toronto (Organization of Women in International Trade) is pleased to announce and introduce its two new Co-Presidents for the 2022-23 year: Justine Namara and Audrey Ross.

Justine is currently a Special Advisor, Economic Cooperation, in the Pan-Africa Affairs Bureau at Global Affairs Canada. An international trade and development expert, with over 15 years' experience working on impact from the grassroots through to global policy change, Justine is a passionate advocate for inclusive trade. Previously, Justine was a Director at the Africa Trade Desk, and formerly Associate Director of Programs and Strategic Initiatives at Skills for Change. She has also managed partnerships, outreach and advocacy in Switzerland at the World Trade Organization’s trade program for least developed countries, and was the lead on gender and trade. In Uganda, she has worked as a legal trade and development specialist.

Justine is a Board Advisor at the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee and also serves as OWIT-Toronto’s VP of Strategic Partnerships. She holds an LL.M. in International Trade and Investment Law (University of Western Cape, South Africa), a Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (BAR COURSE) and a Bachelor of Laws Degree (Hons).

Currently the Import & Export Compliance Manager at Orchard Custom Beauty, Audrey Ross is an in-house expert tasked with managing the cross-border activities and compliance of a global supply chain in over 16 countries. A self-described #TradeGeek, she is experienced in multi-modal shipping, supply chain operations, customs compliance, free trade agreements and international tax. She is recognized as a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP® | FIBP®) by the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) and is a frequent panelist/interviewee on webinars, podcasts and conferences. She is a regular guest on “Thoughts & Coffee” with Let’s Talk Supply Chain where she discusses hot topics in the global supply chain. Audrey is a founding member of the Blended Pledge (a grant initiative to foster next gen/diverse voices at industry events), a member of the TradeExperettes and will also continue in her role as VP-Secretary on the International Board for OWIT.

“We are pleased to welcome Justine and Audrey into their shared role,” says outgoing President Helen Hemmingsen. “With their impressive backgrounds and solid experience in trade, they are well positioned to build on the strengths of OWIT-Toronto. Justine’s sharp strategic sense has already played a valuable role on our Board, and we are also excited about how Audrey’s involvement in OWIT International will broaden our chapter’s connection with the mother organization and increase the value of membership.”

About OWIT-Toronto

OWIT-Toronto (The Organization of Women in International Trade-Toronto; www.owit-toronto.ca) is part of an international, non-profit professional organization with chapters around the world (www.owit.org), dedicated to advancing global trade opportunities for women.

Africa Trade Conference 2022

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 19:14:45 GMT

Africa Trade Conference 2022, held virtually last November, facilitated dialogue, networking, and information exchange about trade in Africa and trade with Africa. It examined the opportunities and challenges of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, an agreement encompassing most of Africa to enable economic development. Joining a host of global presenters was OWIT-Toronto’s VP International, Susan Baka, who was part of a panel discussing how to unlock the potential for women to trade sustainably.

Call for Nominations for OWIT-Toronto Export Awards

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 22:31:17 GMT

OWIT-Toronto is proud to recognize the achievements of women who, through their careers and personal commitments, foster international trade and the advancement of women.

We are now accepting nominations for the 2022 Export Awards for:

- Excellence Award for Leadership in International Trade

- Women Exporter of the Year

- Student of International Trade

Nominate your favourite leader, exporter and student here ! The deadline for nominations is Saturday, November 19, 2022.

We are excited to be hosting our Export Awards in person on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre (OITC), 250 Yonge Street, Eaton Centre, Toronto, from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm.

Watch our Events Calendar further details !

Please contact Helen Hemmingsen if you have any questions or need further information.

Build a resilient supply chain with these innovative approaches from the experts

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 04:53:27 GMT

(This article was originally published in FITT's Trade Ready Blog available here.)

By now, we are all probably well aware of the economic turmoil caused by the COVID 19 pandemic and the knock-on effects it has had, and continues to have, on global value chains.

The importance of building a resilient supply chain has become a top issue for businesses with international reach.

Businesses of all sizes have been affected all around the world, from Ikea’s empty warehouses to bare grocery store shelves. This has exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains and value chains.

We’ve seen the increasing international fragmentation of production processes and also the changes that they’ve had on the structure of global trade overall.

Simultaneously, the trade pressures for companies engaged in international trade to build supply chains with full traceability and accountability for social and environmental impact continues to build.

Companies are currently challenged to make their global supply chains more resilient without weakening their competitiveness in the marketplace.

We teamed up with our partners at OWIT-Toronto to host a webinar to discuss how this can be achieved. In this recap article we’ll go through some practical steps that small businesses can take to respond and act upon today’s supply challenges.

And we’ll also talk through how to set up strong supplier relationships and mitigation plans that will help to prevent disruption and delays.

Moderator:

Rashpal Uppal-Assi, CITP – Manager, Procurement Services Division, Town of Stouffville

Rashpal is a seasoned professional with expertise in supply chain management, international business learning design, and academia spanning over 15 years in serving public, private and non-profit organizations. She also founded her own strategic management consulting firm, working primarily with small and medium sized businesses and serves on the boards of three trade organizations.

Panelists:

Amesika Baeta, CITP – District Manager, GTA West, Export Development Canada (EDC)

Amesika manages a team of eight locally engaged account managers who work directly with Canadian exporters to offer knowledge, financing and risk mitigation strategies. She has 14+ years of experience in international trade and a proud CITP.

Maryam Fouladirad – Founder & CEO, fundii

Maryam has a wealth of international trade and development experience in the Middle East, Europe and North America. She received her MBA in London. She has experience in management consulting in FinTech, and the food and beverage manufacturing industries as well as direct trade in the U.S. with focus on entrepreneurship.

Lora Rigutto, CITP – Loyalty and Engagement Manager, Forum for International Trade Training (FITT)Lora started her international trade career working for a foreign office trade commission based in Toronto. She brings experience from the procurement side for Canadian companies that are looking to procure from overseas. She is also a proud Certified International Trade Professional (CITP).

Let’s start by talking about today’s international supply chain environment – what are some of the challenges to be aware of?

Maryam: One of the main issues we’ve noticed over the past couple of years is logistics disruption. The labor shortages, the lack of proper raw materials for the manufacturers, and delays as a result.

So that’s a chain that impacted from A to Z, the supply chain workflow around the world that impacted everyone from the manufacturers, to the freight forwarding companies, to both public and private sectors and at the end, the final consumers.

Amesika: The key challenges that companies have faced have been the cost of inputs. This increase has been devastating in terms of understanding how they can price the costs. The increase in cost of inputs onto their customers while not hitting company’s margins has been a real challenge for companies.

The cost of shipping and freight has gone up by, for some of our clients, three times, four times, where what used to be $5,000 to send the shipment is now $25,000, sometimes $50,000.

Inventory management has been very challenging for companies to manage throughout this time, keeping up with the increased demand at the beginning in 2020 and 2021.

And now in 2022 we’re entering a different stage of the pandemic, consumer spending has gone back down. As a result, companies are managing an overstock of inventory and have to figure out how to get rid of all this product while not taking a hit.

And we’re also seeing the cost of financing rise due to the interest rate hikes, which will also have a huge impact on companies as we enter into 2023.

For businesses that are setting up new resilient supply chains, or modifying their existing supply chains, where should they start building in that resiliency?

Maryam: I often recommend three suppliers in every single market you are active in. And then you can prioritize them. Who is number one for you, number two and number three in terms of different products and the quality enterprises they have. These are the important points in selecting your suppliers and in negotiation.

Amesika: It starts with creating an export plan and then having a backup plan, and then sometimes even having a backup plan to your backup plan.

Through the process of creating an export plan you’ll assess your company’s financial position, human capital, the production capacities. Having a plan in place will be a great foundational work to help them determine what your needs are.

And before all else, I encourage you to really understand your cash flow, understand your costs and how you’re going to finance this. Your suppliers may ask you for payment terms. You have to get the cash flow to pay them up front. And then, depending on the payment terms you have with your clients, your clients may pay you in 30 days, 60 days, sometimes 90 days.

Before you engage in these relationships, it’s really important for you to know how much you can afford to pay your suppliers, and how long you can wait to be paid from your clients. And that is a key component to the successful implementation of a supply chain system for yourself.

Maryam: Get all the information you can from Export Development Canada and the Trade Commissioners Service and their reports, but I highly recommend that all the business owners, as either an entrepreneur or SME, do your own research as well because it will really give you a better understanding regarding the market you’re expanding to. This is my recommendation, having a really good understanding regarding the market, and what has changed during the past two to three years due to COVID 19.

How should small businesses in particular approach finding new international suppliers to create a more resilient supply chain?

Lora: Let’s say you want to procure from a market and find foreign suppliers. Sounds so easy, right? But the truth is that you need a roadmap to do that. You need to become strategic about sourcing and procurement.

And learning to navigate through some of those complexities is what FITT can really help you with. FITT’s Global Value Chain course gives you a comprehensive look at supply chain management. There are different units within that course that teach you what to look for when you’re searching for foreign suppliers. How do you do a cost-benefit analysis? How do you really determine what you can afford to pay for those goods and inputs?

Or if you don’t have time to learn a new skill set yourself, set your team up with the needed training to have the skills within your business to be able to do a proper cost benefit analysis.

If you go in blindly, often areas are overlooked. And let’s say you start to procure from a foreign supplier, but you don’t do your due diligence because you don’t know what to look for. Those mistakes can be really, really costly.

Amesika: As a small business, you can’t be everything, right? Doing the analysis of where your gaps are as a business will empower you to know where you can go to get help. And don’t forget that you can also lean into your community.

Often suppliers are found through referrals, by speaking with people, going to trade shows, asking where people find products.

If you find a supplier from a Google search, you don’t know much about them, there might not be much on their website. But you can ask them to produce references for companies that they’ve worked with.

If you don’t have the budget to fly there to see their actual production, that’s one way that you can get around that. But honestly, if you want to save yourself a lot of headaches down the road, fly there to meet the companies that you want to do business with.

I know for a lot of small businesses don’t have the resources to do that, but there is a program called CanExport that’s run through the Trade Commissioner Service. It’s a government grant program that helps subsidize the costs of small businesses that are looking at entering into certain markets around the world. I highly recommend you look into that program to help you subsidize some of those costs.

Maryam: One of the best sources that Canadian companies can use to find suppliers is to contact the commercial section of the embassy of that foreign country in based in Canada.

That’s their job exactly, much like trade commissioners, helping Canadian companies to find their suppliers. They can also help you in translation if there is some sort of a language barrier or cultural issue.

Let’s talk about negotiating with suppliers – what are some pointers you can give for negotiating payment terms and contract details with suppliers?

Maryam: It’s an art, we need to develop it.

There are a lot of resources out there that you’ll want to tap into regarding the cultural ethics, the how to negotiate with different countries, what is important for them. Building trust is crucial, and another reason why flying to meet them in person can be so important.

But face time, even in online meetings is a good way to build trust with them. Do the work in vetting the supplier – ask for samples, test them, check their payment terms.

Negotiation skills also get better with practice. It’s a skill that people can learn. There are a lot of resources available, from Youtube to major universities, that teach negotiation skills. I would suggest people just watch those videos, give it time, practice it, see the result.

Amesika: You have to remember at the end of the day, you have to look out for your own company. I would always say this to my clients when I was an account manager; if somebody is looking to put food on the table, whose table are they going to put food on? They’re going to worry about themselves.

Get the expertise. If you don’t have the expertise in a certain area, educate yourself to empower yourself to make the right decisions. Get good legal advice too. Make sure your contracts are well structured from the beginning and very clear in terms of who’s responsible for what.

Lora: You need to have confidence to go into negotiations, whether you’re negotiating with a potential buyer for your product or negotiating with a supplier.

Partner with your logistics provider or your freight forwarder, they have the expertise. Before you agree to a price that has an Incoterm, understand what that Incoterm really means to you and your obligations as a buyer.

It all comes back to being prepared. In a negotiation, if they’re quoting a certain term or a certain price with an Incoterm, you could be in a position to say, it’s the first time I’m dealing with you as a supplier, I’m not comfortable with buying “FOB”.

If you don’t have the answers, partner with somebody that knows more than you do. And don’t agree to anything that you’re, you’re not comfortable with. Be willing to negotiate and have your reasons for not accepting that price with that Incoterm.

How can a small business without the resources of a large corporation diversify and create a more resilient supply chain?How can they mitigate any risks and avoid disruption for their customers?

Maryam: Make use of all the help and resources available to you from the TCS, EDC, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and the embassies. Go to trade shows and build your network, build those relationships.

Another really good source regarding Incoterms and finding the best route is freight forwarders and shipping companies. They know everything regarding Incoterms and they can be really helpful for entrepreneurs.

Amesika: EDC provides risk mitigation strategies. If you’ve got a company that you’ve never done business with before that’s emailed you, you’re worried about giving them payment terms, whether it be net 15, net 30, net 60 day terms, even net 90 in some cases.

But the reality of getting paid up front is just not possible for a lot of companies. EDC does offer a variety of insurance solutions to cater to what your needs are, depending on how large you are, and depending on the size of your contract as well.

We have an online insurance solution called select credit insurance, where you can go online, apply for a credit limit through our system, we will do a credit check on that company and then advise you as to whether we can insure that company or not.

You can get a quote from us and then determine whether you want to pay for the insurance or not. And there’s no minimum size. This is ideal for companies who have the occasional order here or there, in a small amount. And it’s a way to educate yourself.

Lora: I’ve been mentoring a company with an e-commerce model for the past nine months. And their biggest issue was shipping costs. My recommendation to them was to actually reach out to the small business solutions division of their courier.

Most couriers have a small business solutions department, and they understand the unique challenges of small businesses. They have the tools and resources and can provide guidance on how to avoid some of the risks of the particular products that are being shipped or the products that you’re trying to procure.

Amesika: The more informed that you are, the more you are empowered to make the appropriate decisions for your company.

It goes right back to the importance of having a plan and then having a backup plan for that plan, and most likely be prepared to change that plan again in six months or even a year.

To women or Non‑Binary Business Owners: Apply to Join the Growing Global Activator Cohort to Expand your Company Internationally!

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 20:22:26 GMT

The Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) is collaborating with Export Development Canada (EDC) and Coralus (formerly SheEO) to offer the Growing Global Activator Cohort, a 12‑month long program curated to help woman or non‑binary owned companies to grow globally.

You will notably:

participate in cohort sessions including networking opportunities, expert panel discussions and workshops
receive a 1:1 introduction to a regional Trade Commissioner for a session to support your specific international growth needs
benefit from knowledge and resources focused on growing your business globally as a women or non‑binary owner

The next cohort will start in January 2023.

Applications will close on November 13th at 11:59pm EST.

Learn more and apply to join the Growing Global Activator Cohort today.

You're ready to grow. We're ready to help.

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service helps Canadian businesses grow by connecting them with its funding and support programs, international opportunities and its network of Trade Commissioners in more than 160 cities worldwide.

BMO Helps Women Business Owners Grow the Good with the 2022 BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 19:34:12 GMT

BMO Financial Group, in collaboration with Deloitte Canada, today announced the continuation of its BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program pledging $150,000 in grants to support the high-level growth plans of 12 women-owned businesses across Canada.

Among banks in Canada, BMO has led the way by establishing a dedicated bank-wide program for women. With a decades-long commitment to removing barriers to women's empowerment, championing the advancement of women, and promoting an inclusive market, BMO has taken a close look at women's unique needs and created programs and initiatives that are important to them. BMO understands that the future depends on empowering more women.

Through the longest-standing, bank-led recognition program for women in North America – BMO Celebrating Women – and inspired by our Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and in life, including our commitment to double support for women-led businesses, BMO is inviting women business owners to share their high-level business growth plans and apply for one of 12 grants:

one grant of $20,000 CAD
four grants of $15,000 CAD
seven grants of $10,000 CAD

In addition to these grants, BMO offers a comprehensive package to all recipients that includes an exclusive webinar series focused on business growth, the opportunity to join certain organizations and/or advisory boards, a profile on bmoforwomen.com, and a BMO Celebrating Women Grant Recipient social badge.

Applications open September 26, 2022 and close October 17, 2022.

"Through the BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program, we continue to drive our commitment to close the funding gap and provide meaningful capital to women business owners," said Christine Cooper, Head, Canadian Commercial Banking. "This year, we are recognizing women-owned businesses that are boldly growing their businesses and, in turn, strengthening the Canadian economy. We are proud to offer these grants and remove barriers for women-owned businesses and help those already leading positive change in their communities to grow the good."

"Women-owned businesses are a driving force of the Canadian economy, and by providing these entrepreneurs and leaders with access to capital today, we're ensuring the prosperity of their businesses and our global competitiveness," said Linda Blair, Chief Experience Officer, Deloitte Canada. "We're pleased to be working with BMO on this initiative, not only to support women in business, but to inspire others, and we look forward to its positive impact for generations to come."

To assist with the grant recipient selection process, BMO is collaborating with strategic partners to form this year's Advisory Panel of Judges.

BMO has a long history of programs and partnerships to support and empower women:

Earmarked $5 billion in capital over five years to women entrepreneurs in 2022, building on the commitment of $2 billion in 2014 and $3 billion in 2018.
Committed $1.2 million in funding to Coralus (formerly SheEO), a not-for-profit company which offers financial support to businesses led by women-identifying and non-binary people. BMO's financial commitment allowed Coralus to fund all 2021 venture applicant companies working to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Launched a $750 million Women in Business Bond solution with proceeds being allocated toward women-owned enterprises as defined in BMO's Sustainable Financing Framework, including micro, small and medium-sized businesses.
Set new diversity goals for senior leader and executive roles through its Zero Barriers to Inclusion 2025 strategy, including maintaining its leadership in gender diversity with at least 40 per cent of senior leader roles filled by employees who identify as women.

To learn more about the Canadian Grant Program, visit bmoforwomen.com.

Discount of 40% off FITT online courses for OWIT-Toronto Members

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 20:30:00 GMT

The OWIT-Toronto and FITT partnership will further support women in acquiring practical skills and know-how on the complexities of doing business in respective international markets.

Equally to building proficiency and skills in international trade, it provides the opportunity to tap into OWIT-Toronto’s global networks, resources and export education to support businesses going global. OWIT-Toronto and OWIT members can register to access the 40% off FITT online courses and workshops or contact info@owit-toronto.ca for more information.

Non-members can sign up to be part of a dynamic world-wide organization advancing women in international trade and take advantage of the robust training offers.

Co-VP Communications - Board Opportunity with OWIT-Toronto

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 21:00:00 GMT

We are looking for two Co-VP Communications to join our volunteer Board.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop board governance skills for non-profit organizations. You can draw on a range of experience and talents.

As Co-VP Communications, you will coordinate our quarterly newsletter, manage event postings on our website, update our website, and manage social media. You will have a team to support you.

A listing of current board members can be viewed at: www.owit-toronto.ca/board_members

Please contact Helen Hemmingsen for further information.

OWIT-Toronto Partners with FITT to Enhance Women’s Global Business Skills

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 18:00:00 GMT

OWIT-Toronto is partnering with the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) to build and enhance women’s global business skills, expertise and knowledge. The partnership seeks to leverage existing resources, expertise and capabilities to empower women in global markets with key information, knowledge and up-to-date international issues on accessing global markets and advancing profitable competition.

FITT is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing international business training, resources and professional certification to individuals and businesses. FITT’s international business training solutions have become the standard of excellence for global trade professionals across Canada and around the world.

Established in 1992 through a joint initiative of the Canadian government and private sector, FITT is now an authoritative standards body for international trade certification, accreditation and training. FITT’s Certified International Trade Professional - CITP® | FIBP® designation is the standard of excellence for global business practitioners worldwide. As part of the partnership with OWIT-Toronto, FITT is currently offering a 40% discount for OWIT members on all online courses and workshops.

“Cross-border business is complicated, even more-so following the onset of the pandemic and the related supply chain disruption and great resignation. For businesses making the leap into global markets, know-how is survival. Through this partnership, connecting women to the right training to properly address the risks, plan strategically, and avoid costly errors will empower them to become high-performers for their organizations and improve retention. And this is crucial for building export-capable businesses and people worldwide,” said Caroline Tompkins, CITP, President & CEO of FITT

Helen Hemmingsen, Board Director and past President of OWIT-Toronto Chapter, warmly welcomed this collaboration. “OWIT-Toronto is very pleased to partner with FITT to upskill and advance women’s abilities in global trade. Recognizing that skills development is key to more inclusive international trade, this partnership advancing global business knowledge will support our members to more effectively integrate into global markets,” Helen said. “With the dynamism of global trade, upskilled women exporters and service providers will have the ability to reap more benefits from global trade”.

The OWIT-Toronto and FITT partnership will further support women in acquiring practical skills and know-how on the complexities of doing business in respective international markets. Equally to building proficiency and skills in international trade, it provides the opportunity to tap into OWIT-Toronto’s global networks, resources and export education to support businesses going global. OWIT-Toronto and OWIT members can register to access the 40% off FITT online courses and workshops or contact info@owit-toronto.ca for more information. Non-members can sign up to be part of a dynamic world-wide organization advancing women in international trade and take advantage of the robust training offers.

Welcome to a New OWIT-Toronto Member: Arsheen Kaur

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 15:28:35 GMT

A development communications and creative professional, Arsheen has experience in strategic communications and marketing, content strategy, social media management, and stakeholder relationships. Having worked with non-profits and think tanks over the last few years, she has been engaged in the conception and delivery of projects curated for diverse audiences and timelines, partnership building, and in driving engagement through various forms of traditional and digital communication tools.

Arsheen is passionate about development communications and using the tool to advance conversations around gender equality and inclusion.

She is currently working as Communications and Marketing Associate at the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization. Previously, she was engaged in different roles in outreach, project management, and stakeholder relationships, in Programs and Strategic Initiatives at Skills for Change.

She is an independent writer and poet, and her work has been published in The Bombay Review, The Wire, Café Dissensus, Live Wire, and The Quint among others.

She is a film studies and English literature (Hons) graduate from Jamia Millia Islamia, India.

Welcome to a New OWIT-Toronto Member, Julie Bednarski, Healthy Crunch

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Julie Bednarski is a dynamic and energetic entrepreneur with almost ten years of experience in the food and nutrition industry. She has always had a passion for food and wellness and believes that health and happiness all start in the kitchen. Julie’s education includes Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Human Nutrition at the University of Guelph and a Master of Health Science in Nutrition Communication at Ryerson University. Julie went on to complete her dietetic internship to become a Registered Dietitian with the College of Dietitians in Ontario.

In 2012, Julie followed her passion for culinary arts, as she attended the Chef’s Training Program culinary in New York City at the Natural Gourmet Institute. Following her culinary training, Julie went on to work at various restaurants throughout North America to refine and further develop her culinary skills.

In July 2014, Julie started Healthy Crunch – as a way to satisfy her craving for super crunchy kale chips that were BIG in size and BIG in flavor. She started recipe development in her home kitchen and within 1 year, Julie had expanded to own her own commercial snack food manufacturing facility. Healthy Crunch’s mission is to innovate everyday foods making them better for you, while still being super delicious. With Julie’s ambition for success Healthy Crunch grew to have over 25,000 points of distribution within Canada within the first 2 years in business. Healthy Crunch now distributes their products throughout the world including Canada, USA, Europe, and the Middle East. Since the start of her business, Julie continues to expand Healthy Crunch’s product lines to include coconut chips, trail mix, granola bars, rice crispy squares, chia jam, seed butter, instant lattes, kale chips, dark chocolate superfoods, and chocolate chips. Julie is proud to be a woman entrepreneur and a certified Women-Owned Business.

OWIT International Highlights

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 22:25:44 GMT

New chapters to expand your global network…virtual happy hours to connect with members around the world…a celebration of OWIT small businesses….this and more from OWIT International. Here are some highlights:

Welcome aboard to OWIT Ecuador and OWIT South Africa, two new chapters joining the OWIT International family this spring.
Virtual happy hours called Happy-Her-Hour for members are starting, which will be a great way to connect with other members around the world. Check events in the OWIT site in August for details on when and how to participate in the next one.
Washington, DC was the host city for the Spring board meeting that attracted chapter representatives from around the world. The fall board meeting will take place in Geneva immediately following the WTO Public Forum the end of September.
In honour of MSME Day, OWIT International hosted a virtual event in July that highlighted five selected SMEs from around the world. This event was the culmination of a month-long campaign throughout June aimed at recognizing and celebrating OWIT SME members from our 27 chapters in Africa, the Americas, and Europe. The women honoured and featured included: Canada’s Barbara Mowat, President of GroYourBiz in B.C., Noreen Cesaro, Principal of Market Accents and President of the OWIT-UK chapter, Elizabeth Nwanko of Oakland Best in Nigeria and Leslie August, President of Fremont Peak Capitalin California.
When asked by moderator Kezy Mukiri of Africa what role they foresaw OWIT playing in the future, the consensus was that OWIT can become the lead agency for entrepreneurs and policy for small business. As Noreen put it, “There is great value in our power as a voice of women traders globally to put forward recommendations to our governments and the World Trade Organization. (WTO). We are a huge resource that is underutilized. We need to look at programs where we can have impact.” “International leadership is important for legislation and policy,” agreed Leslie. “We can also help women anywhere learn and grow. There is a wide swath of women on a continuum – from women with little access to resources and those who have access. We can need to facilitate that transfer of knowledge across borders and connect to uplift all of us.” Another key take-away summed up the value of OWIT membership: "There are great opportunities for linkages among us; we can form strategic alliances and collaborate," said Barbara. "Network with other chapters", added Elizabeth. "Your network is your net worth."

Our Partner BCBC is Accredited by the Federation of Belgian Chambers of Commerce

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 20:30:00 GMT

Our partner the Belgian Canadian Business Chamber (BCBC) recently received the accreditation of The Federation of Belgian Chambers of Commerce - the umbrella organization of all accredited Chambers of Commerce in Belgium and Belgian Chambers abroad. Through the accreditation program, the Federation guarantees the quality of the services provided by the Chambers to their members, providing BCBC members with the highest level of assurance. The Federation aims to develop the Belgian Chambers of Commerce into a reference partner for companies doing sustainable and international business. BCBC also held their first Business Excellence Awards Gala in April 2022. A sold-out event that showcased Canadian and Belgian companies as well as individuals who have played a key role in driving bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Belgium and Canada. OWIT-Toronto members can access BCBC events at member rates, so keep on the lookout for upcoming events.

CETA Business Forum Marked 5th Anniversary of Landmark Agreement

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 20:56:16 GMT

Toronto was a partner in a virtual CETA Business Forum for Canada and Europe that took place in June to create synergies and networking between Canadian and European companies. Our chapter was represented in the Women in International Trade session by VP International Susan Baka who presented Opportunities for Canadian Women Entrepreneurs under CETA to leverage this free trade agreement and do business with the EU.

Tripartite Event Showcases Trailblazing Women

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 15:00:00 GMT

OWIT-Toronto partnered with OWIT-Tampa Bay and OWIT-South Florida for the 2^nd Annual Stories from the Trenches: Women who Lead in International Trade webinar in June, supported by the Canadian Consulate General in Miami and moderated by Susan Harper, the Consul General there. The virtual event featured three dynamic women selected by each chapter who shared their different experiences in trade:

Nadia Theodore, SVP, Global Government & Industry Relations, Maple Leaf Foods, Toronto * – Always fascinated with the idea of bringing trade to companies and marrying up policy with practice, Nadia joined MLF after spending 20 years in the trade policy branch of Global Affairs Canada. She was one of two executive leaders who supported the chief negotiators for the CPTPP.

There are challenges [in being a woman in international trade] but also moments when you realize that sometimes success comes because we are women.
We need to talk about who benefits from trade and how they benefit and find ways to bring trade to more people.
There are numerous paths to international trade. Really think broadly about what your strength looks like in terms of a career in trade.
What has served me well is the ability to read a room and calibrate the response accordingly. Sometime that means doubling down and other times it means biting your tongue.

*Since presenting on this webinar, Nadia was appointed as Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization in Geneva. Many congratulations from OWIT-Toronto!

Jeneth D’Alonzo, CEO, DMSI, Tampa Bay – Both CEO and an engineer in a manufacturing company – a sector where there are few women - Jeneth designs things like fibreconnectivity products. Despite having no education for it, she built a fibreoptic manufacturing facility in the Philippines in 2009, the first of its kind.

Corruption was probably the biggest challenge in building a manufacturing plant in a developing country.

When you enter international trade, come first knowing who you are and be confident; have faith in what you do and you’ll be awesome.
Although the manufacturing industry is male dominated, I was accustomed to it from school where I was only one of two woman in a class of 48. Once you are seen as an expert, you will get respect.

Jen Diaz, President, Diaz Trade Law, Miami – After 10 years at a large firm, Jen decided to start her own firm, which specializes in trade compliance. She loves international trade and finds every day different.

The enforcement space is growing and is a great career path, even though it is very male dominated – that’s why OWIT was a godsend for me.
We as business owners wear 18,000 hats. Building and maintaining expertise in a specific niche has helped me tremendously.
This is an interesting time to be in trade in the US since there is so much going on eg. forced labour issue.
There is great power in an international network like OWIT. Part of being an amazing woman is having a network and tribe and being around successful women, who will make you better.

If you missed the webinar, here is the link to the recoding:

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/ZxbEESKT7zYSbE9htJ7AEzFRqP7EFV-2s4YpO8GZ13ddbMNdrIF9YLe8v73Ghz-a.yZb-rdIENUGeNC0j

Access Passcode: Qqh$dR6^

SME Counsellors Network: Inaugural CUSMA SME Dialogue is a Success

Fri, 27 May 2022 20:24:39 GMT

OWIT-Toronto participated on panels during a CUSMA SME Women’s Entrepreneurship webinar on May 25 during the first-ever CUSMA SME Dialogue focused on women. Presented by Global Affairs Canada, Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service, the US Trade Department of Commerce and the Ministry of Economy of Mexico, this event brought together SMEs, support organizations and government reps to discuss resources and strategies for strengthening trade under CUSMA, boosting cooperation and helping more SMEs reap the benefits of trade.

As part of a panel of women entrepreneurs from Canada, the US, and Mexico, Kelli Saunders, President of Morai Logistics and a former OWIT-Toronto Woman Exporter of the Year award winner, shared her insights on the Mexican market and tips on doing business there:

Benefits of doing business in Mexico include the ability to cut costs without sacrificing services there, outstanding education and labour force, and closer nearshoring.
Developing personal relationships and trust is key but it is also important to connect with the right people to get decisions made. Having bilingual staff contributes to stronger communications.
Meal time is also important in business development. If you are invited to a breakfast meeting, you have likely scored that trust since deals are sealed there; lunch is more casual and dinner more fun.
People in Mexico want to know about your family.
The business dress code is different – ladies dress smartly and typically wear suits.
Know what resources are available to help you export and take advantage of them.

OWIT-Toronto’s VP International, Susan Baka, participated in a panel about resources available to help women businesses leverage CUSMA and do business in North America. She spotlighted OWIT as a valuable resource and highlighted three things in particular that OWIT offers that contribute to the growth of women globally: trade missions, international networking, and mentoring new chapters.

Our chapter is part of the SME Counsellors Network, which brings together women’s support organizations from Canada, the US and Mexico, to collaborate and to discuss strategies and resources for helping women leverage CUSMA.

Accessing Market Insights and Opportunities in the Middle East & North Africa Region

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 16:03:20 GMT

OWIT-Toronto celebrated its partnership with the Canada Arab Business Council (CABC) to provide women-led businesses and entrepreneurs access to market insights and opportunities across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The partnership was formally announced at a joint OWIT-Toronto and CABC webinar, “Expand your business into the Middle East & North Africa region” in December, which brought together senior women leaders in the public and private sectors to share a current update on doing business in the MENA region, delve into opportunities at the Dubai Expo 2020 and upcoming events and milestones for companies looking to enter, expand or re-activate their trade and investment efforts in the region.

At the occasion of the launch, Helen Hemmingsen, past OWIT-Toronto President said, “As a global network with local chapter representation across Central, North and South America, Western Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, the missing gap of global connections has been the Middle East and North Africa region. This partnership serves as a gateway to tap into opportunities for business information, connections and support our members in doing business in the MENA region.”

CABC is the voice of business between Canada and the Arab world. CABC and OWIT-Toronto have shared interests of advancing international trade between Canada and the Arab world, as well as enhancing international business education and networking opportunities for women entrepreneurs, professionals and trade experts. Cathy Séguin, President and Executive Director, CABC noted, “Our partnership with OWIT-Toronto is a significant milestone for Canada Arab Business Council. It facilitates and accelerates our mission and our scope to promote Canada’s inclusive economic success and to foster international trade and the advancement of women in business in the MENA region. This is also consistent with the government’s strategy in supporting women leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators.”

The panel discussion was moderated by Carmen Sylvain, Former Canadian Ambassador to the Republic of Colombia, the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Mauritania. She was joined by Katerina Tarasova, Executive Director, International Accreditation at Health Standards Organization; Lindsay Margenau, Counsellor (Commercial) and Senior Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada to Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Karima-Catherine [KC] Goundiam, CEO, Red Dot Digital Inc. & B2BeeMatch; Jennifer Cooke, Director, Inclusive Trade, Export Development Canada (EDC); and Amal Soliman, Co-Founder, Nubia Foods.

Here are some key take-aways on doing business and expanding into the MENA region:

In terms of doing business in the MENA region, it is important not to generalize doing business across the region, as there are many geographical and cultural variations across the MENA region as well as in GDP economy levels.
Services to women entrepreneurs are accessible to offset challenges and barriers in accessing programs and solutions through EDC, the Trade Commissioner’s Service (TCS) and other counterparts in the trade ecosystem including the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), as well as B2BeeMatch’s VIBee program that provides customized solutions to women-led businesses.
Key trending sectors in the MENA region that have gained traction especially with the pandemic and increased digital transformation include: healthcare; health tech industry; robotics and artificial intelligence; education tech; health and wellness; and beauty and fashion. The healthcare sector will continue to drastically transform to deal with the aftermath of the pandemic, and also to find new ways of simplifying complex healthcare systems into more efficient and effective ways.
Resources, knowledge, education and skills building are available to support Canadian women to export with confidence in the MENA region, providing connections both to the ecosystem of organizations that can support them as well as to different opportunities internationally.
Learn and get an understanding of the players in the global trading ecosystem and leverage them. This helps to strengthen export plans and position in markets of interest. Reaching out to the TCS, EDC, and organizations like OWIT, chambers of commerce like the CABC can really help to achieve those export goals and accelerate your success, accessing market knowledge, strategic planning for market risks and challenges.
Crucial to start with an international mindset – businesses are more likely to have a global competitive advantage when their leaders have a global mindset and are thinking big from the outset.
Participating in trade missions provides opportunities to explore international business prospects, to build more networks and have access to specific sector information.
Accessing financing and grants using financial products can help speed up growth, help a business owner achieve their objectives more quickly. Financial support to women entrepreneurs looking at accessing new markets like the MENA region is also available at the EDC.
Important to protect yourself as a business owner from liability – this opens up access to more resources like grants or other financial products. It is also important to have a good understanding of all the risks involved in a market and what can be addressed.
Access to a strong network – this can enable introductions to customers, suppliers, partners, distributors etc., as well as providing knowledge and support.
The MENA region presents a good alternative with diversifying supply chains especially given the global supply chains disruptions caused by the pandemic.
Most MENA countries have very conducive environments for women to do and start businesses, with a large number of women entrepreneurs as a driving force for their economies, in leadership roles and company executive roles. Countries like UAE have been voted as the safest in the world for women and provide a global hub for business with a diversity in the population and in cultures.
Members were invited to the Expo Dubai 2020, one of the major highlights of the year. The world's largest business event that was held in the UAE, it hosted 200+ pavilions and 24 million registered visits from 178 nations over its six months duration (October 2021 to March 2022). CABC led a high-level Canadian trade mission of 30 companies to the UAE and organized its first international business event 'Canada Arab Business Forum 2022' with 250 attendees representing government and businesses from Canada and the UAE. With a focus on strategic sectors such as Healthcare, Education, Artificial Intelligence, Clean Energy and Agriculture, the event created significant business and networking opportunities promoting bilateral trade and investment outcomes.

Cross-Borders’ Virtual Event Attracts Large Audience

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 14:39:51 GMT

The OWIT chapters in the CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC region - Ottawa, Toronto, Orange County, Los Angeles, and Mexico - and the Los Angeles Small Business Development Center Global teamed up for a collaborative online event on April 5 that attracted over 300 registrants from around the world. It was the first of a series of virtual events on the topic of recovery and resilience in the trade community that highlight the voices of women in trade. This kick-off webinar brought perspectives from the customs agencies in Canada, the US and Mexico together with three women entrepreneurs from the three countries. Watch the recorded event.

Take-aways from he Canadian panelists included:

From Carol West, CEO & President of the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers

Collaboration and sharing were critical during the pandemic and made us all think about border security and collaboration even more.
Supply chain challenges accelerated in Canada due to the collapse of the highway infrastructure in BC from torrential storms that caused additional costs and delays, and due to truck convoys that shut down border crossings and caused perishable goods to suffer immensely.
CUSMA has made it simpler to use this free trade agreement.
On the future of trade: She is hopeful but not totally positive, questioning what the recovery will look like as result of the war in Ukraine. Resilience will mean something different. Her advice: Be increasingly vigilant about cyber attacks on supply chains.
Priorities going forward include: collaboration, with the private sector at the government table to inform decision making; commitment to standardization; commitment to communication; and commitment to knowledge and investments in training and professional development

From Suzie Yorke, Board Director & Founder, Love Good Fats

There is a higher bar now for companies to do things the right way – to be transparent and not just pay lip service.
Brands that are successful embrace sustainability and have a good story
Consumers and retailers want higher purpose brands and this demand is influencing trade in a big way.

The next OWIT collaboration program will take place on April 29 4/29/22 and will highlight the voice of women in trade from Kenya, featuring the OWIT Nairobi Chapter and Kenyan women in trade. Keep an eye on. www.linkedin.com/in/witoc/ for details.

OWIT Virtual Agri-food Business Delegation to Mexico a resounding success

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 13:47:06 GMT

A group of women food exporters from across Canada participated in the March OWIT-Toronto Women’s Virtual Business Delegation to Mexico, focusing on the agri-food sector. This represented the third trade mission of its kind organized by OWIT Toronto. With the geographical advantage and the Free Trade Agreements that have eliminated duties on almost all agri-food products, Mexico is a natural market for Canadian exporters.

Delegates had a total of more than 30 pre-arranged virtual business-to-business meetings with qualified buyers or partners. Feedback from delegates at the debriefing session was encouraging as they asked OWIT-Toronto to continue promoting and running business delegations; delegates found the virtual B2B meetings very productive and a delegate plan to follow the same format and template to reach out other prospect clients from the European market.

Webinar kick-off

Other food exporters seeking to diversify their markets beyond Canada joined the March 22 complimentary opening session of the Business Delegation. The Canadian Ambassador to Mexico, Graeme C. Clark, and the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affair, Lisa Thompson, shared welcoming remarks. The event included two panels - one featuring Catherine Beach of EDC and Brooke Gordon of BDC, who highlighted resources to help women-owned businesses export to Mexico; and the other featuring Nydia Orue, General Director, Cluster Agroalimentario de Nuevo León, Agroalim, and Rosa Maria Suarez, Import Manager at La Comer (one of the largest supermarket chains in Mexico City), who shared what buyers in Mexico expect from suppliers. Among their tips:

Having good communication is always key in everything. Stay in touch to understand the buyer’s needs and keep the buyer informed about new items in your catalogue.
Meet potential distributors and business partners through trade local associations

Many thanks to our Business Delegation partners – Global Affairs Canada, through the Embassy in Mexico City , Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), EDC, BDC, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, BMO, City of Toronto and Bennett Jones.

And a big shout out Board member Alma Farias for spearheading this 2022 Business Delegation, along with her committee, Susan Baka, Selda Erkilic and Helen Hemmingsen. Watch the webinar recording.

Join Us for our Virtual Trade Mission to Mexico, March 22-24, 2022

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 20:07:26 GMT

Interested in doing business with Mexico?

Join OWIT-Toronto's virtual trade mission, 22-24 March, 2022 to Mexico. Products of interest: gourmet/specialty agri-food products, private label, health and wellness, food ingredients (including beans and pulses).

Program includes:

- Pre-mission educational webinars. See our events calendar for Trade Commissioners Service/EDC webinars on Exporting to the Mexican market:

- January 25, 2022: Doing Business in the Agri-Food Sector in Mexico.

- January 26, 2022: Food Labelling Requirements in Mexico.

- January 27, 2022: Making the Most of your Buyer's Meeting.

- Briefing and overview of Mexican market.

- Pre-arranged B2B meetings with qualified buyers and partners, arranged by an industry expert based in Mexico.

Registration: www.owit-toronto.ca/event-4518483?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=3/12/2022

Email us at info@owit-toronto.ca with any questions.

Ready to Sell Your Food Products Beyond our Borders?

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 14:04:34 GMT

If you are in the agri-food industry and interested in exploring the Mexican market, you’ll want to consider joining a Virtual Canadian Women’s Trade Mission to Mexico – Agri-Food sector scheduled for March 22- 24, 2022 and hosted by OWIT-Toronto. The mission is organized in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada and will provide women-owned and women-led businesses a great opportunity to enter and grow into the dynamic Mexican market and to showcase Canadian agri-food products and the contribution of women in this industry.

Mexico is one of the largest importers of agri-food products in the world. That – combined with tariff-free access under the CUSMA free trade agreement – makes Mexico an attractive market for Canadian exporters.

Thanks to our sponsors and supporters – including GAC, Embassy, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, EDC, the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, BMO, Bennett Jones, and the City of Toronto – the participation fee is quite modest (OWIT members: $150/company; non-members: $250/company). It includes:

Pre-arranged virtual business-to-business meetings with qualified buyers or partners
Pre-event market information webinar sessions by experts and the Trade Commissioner Service
Digital catalogue with you company listing in Spanish and English
Support from OWIT-Toronto

Check out for more information Note that space is limited. Be sure to register today to save your spot!

Supply Chain Challenges Tackled

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 14:12:28 GMT

OWIT-Toronto’s November webinar on The Global Supply Chain Grinch that Could Steal Christmas attracted record participation. It featured logistics expert Christian Sivière of Solimpex who gave an insightful presentation analyzing the causes, the impact on businesses and consumers, as well as exploring some remedies as the world slowly emerges from the pandemic.

Here are some key take-aways on the causes of the supply chain disruptions and actions that can be taken to mitigate them:

The pandemic shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) mainly manufactured in China, the blockage of the Suez Canal by a huge container ship for a week, and now the recent events in BC that have destroyed some bridges and rail lines have all contributed to the heightened awareness of the importance of the supply chain and to create shortages of commodities and products.
The slow-down in production during Covid, the shortage of inventory when demand picked up, the resulting price increases, changes in consumer buying patterns, labour shortages, port congestion and huge increases in shipping costs have all combined to cause supply chain disruptions.
E-commerce growth is another contributor to both supply chain issues and environmental damage. The more we purchase online, the more we contribute to global warming (free shipping/free returns contribute to over consumption and waste, to high carbon emissions because of more trucks on road, and to congestion at ports.)
There is a huge economic impact when supply chain disruptions cause a shortage of products (eg. semi-conductor shortage for autos which means less vehicles at dealers).
Companies have to bite the bullet and rebuild inventory, which forces them to stock products earlier – now it is a Just in Case concept rather than Just in Time, which increases costs.
Trend: Many companies are starting to source locally (ie regional supply chain vs global supply chain) but this can be easier said than done if there is not supply.
Strategies for mitigating supply chain disruptions:
- If it is not possible to buy local, at least try to build a regional supply chain – eg buy from US or Mexico rather than China.
- Stock products earlier but reduce inventories to match sales patterns.
- Buy from local merchants rather than online.

Spotlight on Women in International Trade at the G20 YEA Canada Session

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 14:06:27 GMT

The Women-in-trade G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (YEA) Canada Panel and Networking Event, presented by Futurpreneur in partnership with EDC and OWIT-Toronto on 2nd November, brought together women delegates of the 2021 Canadian G20 YEA delegation and G20 YEA alumni as well as members of OWIT-Toronto, from a variety of regions and sectors. Held in the context of the G20 YEA 2021 Hybrid Summit which took place in Milan in October 2021, the session offered insights on international trade opportunities and the advancement of women in international business. It also provided an opportunity for young women entrepreneurs to connect and uplift each other, share common challenges and learn more about the solutions and services available to support their trade and export goals.

The panel included Audrey Charles, 2021 G20 YEA delegate and founder & CEO of Convenient Business Solutions Inc.; Jennifer Cooke, Director of Inclusive Trade at EDC; Audrey Ross, Logistics & Customs Specialist at Orchard Custom Beauty, and moderator & President of OWIT-Toronto, Helen Hemmingsen. The panel discussion focused on experiences and data driven research on the current barriers women continue to face in trade and export from an intersectional and intersectoral perspective. While Audrey Charles highlighted her experience and learnings as a tech founder with multinational experience before and during the pandemic, Audrey Ross offered insights into navigating global supply chains in times of disruption and the importance of women-driven networks including OWIT-Toronto. Jennifer Cooke showcased insightful results of gender-driven research led by EDC and observations on export trends and gaps.

The panel discussion was followed by a networking session where participants were able to connect and exchange on key take-aways around inclusive trade and its impact on economic recovery. The importance of accessing supportive networks and connections and sharing of resources and experiences were key takeaways from the panel and networking sessions.

For more information on:

EDC’s Women in Trade: https://www.edc.ca/women-in-trade

OWIT-Toronto: https://www.owit-toronto.ca/

Futurpreneur: https://www.futurpreneur.ca/en/

G20 YEA: https://www.futurpreneur.ca/en/landing-pages/g20-yea-2021/

Seeking Board Members

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 14:07:08 GMT

We are looking for new board members to join our team.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop board governance skills for non-profit organizations. New board members will draw on a range of experience, talents and a keen interest in international trade and/or women's economic empowerment. No previous experience needed. You will develop new skills in areas like: board management, organizing and hosting virtual/hybrid events, trade policy development, and communications (website design and newsletters).

Board members are elected at our AGM on January 26, 2022.

You'll need to be a member of OWIT-Toronto, and can join within ten days of being elected. See our membership page for benefits and rates. If you're not a member, but are interested in this voluntary role, contact Helen Hemmingsen or Carolina Soto to discuss further. Current listing of board members and their roles can be viewed at: www.owit-toronto.ca/board_members

OWIT International Launches Blue Table Talk Series

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 20:46:14 GMT

OWIT International just held its second Blue Table Talk in June. Hosted by VP Chapter Support Karen Bland, these informal monthly talks with past and present OWIT leaders are informal opportunities designed to give OWIT members the opportunity to relax while chatting and sharing information, tips and strategies to strengthen OWIT chapters.

The topic for the first session in May was “Leadership Matters” where OWIT chapter leaders and members discussed what qualities make a good leader, how to effectively recruit board members and how to handle tough conversations related to underperformance. The topic for June focused on ‘How to leverage OWIT partners” which was an opportunity to learn about how to benefit as a member from OWIT’s various partners and how chapters can help market and promote partnership benefits. Special guests included Angela Hoffman, Co-VP Partnerships, and Cortney Morgan, Co-VP Partnerships.

Summary of OWIT Partnerships:

US Department of Commerce: This is the second year of a strategic partnership with the International Trade Administration of DOC. The collaboration is focused on three elements: empowering and engagement in international trade, expanding networks and offering opportunities to drive new members to OWI. As part of the agreement, they help OWIT on the education front. They have conducted quarterly webinars on timely topics (eg on USMCA) and provide subject matter expertise as speakers for OWIT events. DOC has desk officers around the world. They have started a series to help women in other countries, such as a Coffee Series in Africa, and are helping OWIT expand our footprint in Asia. Their website is a sea of great info.
NASBITE: National Association of Small Business and International Trade Educators. Offering a professional certification called the Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) for international trade professionals, NASBITE concurs with OWIT’s mission in terms of empowerment and education. They offer a discount to OWIT members.

There is a great opportunity to tap into NASBITE and DOC as a speaker bank for chapter programs.

FIIT: The Forum for International Trade Training. They are a certification and training organization based in Canada dedicated to providing international business training, resources and professional certification (CITP – Certified International Trade Professional for individuals and businesses. They have several offerings including a Trade Ready blog, Twitter chats, FITT skills training programs, all offered at a discount to OWIT members.
TFO Canada: Trade Facilitation Office Canada is dedicated to helping SME exporters (particularly women) in developing countries to access the North American market and to connect them with buyers. They provide education, webinars and capacity building programs.
GroYourBiz: helps small and medium sized businesses to reach their potential and success. They set up advisory boards for entrepreneurs.
ITC in Geneva: International Trade Center (www.intracen.org) offers opportunities for entrepreneurs to plug into a global networking database and receive exporting assistance. Check out their SheTrades initiative.

How to find out about partners: There are partner spotlights from past webinars recorded on the OWIT website. Updates on these and other partners are also included in OWIT’s newsletter and in monthly board meetings.

OWIT members are encouraged to take advantage of our partners, and Angela and Cortney welcome suggestions for new partners. Email to vp-partnership@owit.org .

Next Blue Table Talk session will be held on July 23 at 12 pm, focusing on how to use social media to promote and grow your chapter. OWIT’s VP of Social Media, Kyesubire Talitwala-Greigg, and Past President Jennifer Diaz will be the guests.

OWIT UK Chapter Launches

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 20:38:16 GMT

OWIT’s International network just got larger with the addition of its newest chapter in the United Kingdom (www.owituk.org) . Marked with a high-energy virtual launch on June 23 and an impressive panel of high-level speakers, the event attracted a large turnout of global participants from the UK and representatives of OWIT chapters from other parts of the world. They included OWIT-Toronto President Helen Hemmingsen and VP International Susan Baka, as well as OWIT International’s President Camelia Mazard who welcomed UK into the OWIT fold.

Noreen Cesareo, OWIT UK’s President, called the launch a milestone event that was a year in the making but “well worth the effort”. “We are delighted to be supporting the launch of OWIT UK,” said guest speaker Chris Southworth, Secretary-General, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), UK. “It's perfectly timed as we scale up trade initiatives, tackle inequalities, modernize the trading system and importantly build back better.” Another guest speaker was Ambassador Stephen DeBoer, Permanent Representative of Canada to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, who outlined Canada’s various initiatives to promote women and trade, which include introducing gender chapters in several free trade agreements. Others lauded Canada for our trailblazing efforts.

“Wow – what an event!” says Helen. “And it was great to see so many shout-outs to Canada.”

“I’m thrilled to see a UK chapter get off the ground…and with a truly impressive group of accomplished women at the helm who are so knowledgeable and passionate about trade,” adds Susan. “Our Toronto chapter looks forward to potential collaborations down the road.”

OWIT Monterrey Trade Mission Conference in Toronto

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 20:22:15 GMT

In conjunction with a virtual trade mission to Toronto, OWIT Monterrey held a business conference program on June 22 and June 24, supported by OWIT Toronto. The event covered trending topics in the automotive and IT sectors, investment, and logistics and legal implications in Canada and Mexico.

Sandra Shaddick, Consul General, Consulate General of Canada in Monterrey, kicked off the event, along with Helen Hemmingsen, President of OWIT Toronto Chapter, and Carolina Leal, President of OWIT Monterrey.

Here is a summary of the presentations:

Canadian Perspective Automotive

Speaker: Rhonda Barnett, President, AVID Manufacturing

Canada is one of the world's top 10 producers of light vehicles. Its auto sector contributes $19 billion to GDP and directly employs over 125,000 of the 1.7 million workers in the Canadian manufacturing sector.
Manufacturing in Canada is the second biggest sector after oil and gas, working together with the US and Mexico to be a tremendous global trading block.
In 2017 there were just under .5 million women working in the sector
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) launched the We can do it campaign, with the goal of adding 100,000 women to the sector in five years. We already added about 40,000 women to the sector in 18 months.
If the national childcare strategy committed to in the spring budget comes to fruition, providing very affordable childcare in Canada, it will mean that more women and young women can come back to work full time to high-value meaningful jobs.
Canada was just listed in 2021 as the number one country in the world by the Best Country’s Report. Canada hit the high-water mark on so many categories because it is really balancing social and economic aspects. Canadians have a high standard of living, highly educated population, high rate of employment and high quality of life.
Canada is leading the way on diversity and inclusion in the world.

Automotive Trends in Mexico

Speaker: Nazareth Black, CEO, Zacua Mexico

The automotive industry has had rapid growth over the years – starting 135 years ago with the first automobile called Fardier which was a steam powered vehicle and now a self-driving, electric vehicle called Olli.
Mexico is the 4th largest automobile exporter in the world and the 5th largest auto parts producer worldwide, exporting $80 billion per year.
There are several trends in the automotive industry, one of the most important is mobility, which includes electric, autonomous, connected vehicles and shared vehicles. All four are being worked on in parallel, because they are complementary to each other.
It is expected that, by 2040, 90% of the cars that circulate in the world will be electric. Mexico is working towards this same goal for the year 2050.
There are at least 100 projects worldwide working towards creating a fully functional flying car. By 2023, hopes to build a flying car that can be sold to the public.
The second most important trend is the supply chain, which consists of the digitization, automation, and electrification of the supply chains that generate the materials and resources to produce and assemble the vehicles.
Brands are working on designing new options of electric vehicles that carry a high level of digitalization. Which opens door to small businesses with a high level of profile referring to technology.
The third trend is the evolution of the user - going from very few choices to 2000+ choices when buying a car. Users are looking for convenience and different features in vehicles that are smart, modern, environmentally friendly.
Manufacturing industry is going to continue adapting to provide new generation vehicles, autonomous, smarter, and digitalize.

The Implications of the USMCA in Mexico and Canada

Speakers: Roberto Modesto, Partner, Deloitte, and Irka Lopez, Global Trade Manager, Deloitte

NAFTA did not have a termination date. However, USMCA will be terminated 16 years after the day of its entry into force unless all parties confirm their wishes to continue the agreement for a new term.
Country of origin rules were strong to ensure Mexican automobiles manufactured use materials or components from US, Canada, or Mexico. Under NAFTA, 62.5% of the automobile’s components had to be manufactured in Mexico, US, or Canada. Now under USMCA, that percentage increased to 75% and should apply in the first 3 years to be considered USMCA originated.
Automobile manufacturers have to comply with labor value content – ie. the manufacturing process of 40 to 45% of automobiles must be carried out by workers receiving a wage of US$16 per hour by 2023.
No import or export duties can be applied to digital products.
Certification of origin should include nine elements - the certifier of origin, the producer, the origin criteria, the certifier (who issued the certification of origin), the importer, the period cover by the certification of origin, the exporter, the description and classification of goods, authorized signature, and date of signature.

IT Trends in Mexico

Expositor: Arturo Correa, Advisor, Digital Transformation

A plus of COVID-19 has been the acceleration of the technology industry and digitalization. Companies that were already advanced in digitalization services were one step ahead once lockdowns started around the world.
From a cultural point of view, the pandemic meant people working from an office had to adapt to start working remotely.
Create a plan that fits you client needs before they even realized it. Sell what your customer needs and is going to help the solve a problem.
Form multidisciplinary work teams - not only about engineering, but also graphic design, marketing, sales, to create alliances in order to provide a better customer experience.
Digitalize retiring people’s knowledge for future generations to have access in form of a robot or a software. Avoid loss of valuable knowledge and experience.

Stories from the Trenches: Women Who Lead in International Trade

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 19:47:10 GMT

Hosted by three chapters of OWIT – Tampa Bay, Toronto and South Florida – this cross-border virtual fireside chat featured a panel of three trailblazing and diverse women in different sectors from Canada and the U.S. and was moderated by Canada’s Consul General in Florida, Susan Harper. The panel included:

Aylin Lusi, VP Public Affairs, UPS Canada, Toronto
Alba Rodriguez: Senior Project & Design Manager, OHL Building, Tampa Bay
Hydi Webb : Deputy Port Director, Port of Miami

In introducing the panelists, Christyna Doege of OWIT Tampa Bay, said: “The heart of this webinar is to showcase successful women IN the world of international trade and business – to learn from them, to take away best practices, and at the end of the hour to say ‘Yeah, women can! Women do! Women are!’ So, too, we want each attendee - both women and men - to be excited about the possibilities found in international business and trade.”

Here are a few highlights from the fireside chat:

What inspired them to work in international trade?

When Aylin was a student, her dream job was to be a diplomat because of the appeal of getting to know international cultures. Having an Irish and Turkish background also inspired here.
Alba always wanted a career with the opportunity to leave behind a legacy - to see a creation – and that’s why she started as an architect. Then she got into health care which she found fascinating. Through all her travels, she discovered there is so much need in health care and started designing and constructing hospitals in South America and Latin America.
Hydi grew up around trade, working in a range of positions with the very international Port of Miami. She’s been at the Port for 39 years, now as its first woman deputy port director.

What are some of their ‘war stories’?

When she came up against an anti-trade movement in Europe at the outset of the U.S./E.U. trade negotiations, Aylin learned that not everyone sees the benefits of trade.
Despite the sleepless nights negotiating financial agreements with cruise partners and the challenges of being a mom and balancing work and kids, Hydi called ‘war stories’ opportunities instead.
Although it can be hard to get accepted initially in a male-dominated career, Alba gradually gained respect by forgetting about the apprehension of male counterparts to embrace her as a female. Rather, she focused on bringing her knowledge and value to teams.

What is their advice to other women?

Alba: Follow your passion and your heart and become the best at it. When you know your stuff, you can contribute value.
Aylin: Focus on the value you can add and find networks like OWIT which will be most helpful when questioning yourself or having feelings of imposter syndrome by talking about these things with other like-minded women.
Hydi: Go forward with confidence!

Article on 2021 G7 Cornwall Summit

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 20:14:30 GMT

The upcoming 2021 G7 Cornwall summit is a badly needed beacon of hope for a return to some level of normalcy as the G7 faces health, economic, social and environmental challenges of unprecedented proportions. The G7 and the world must keep trade channels open and secure, and ensure trade is more fair, inclusive, sustainable and responsive to the needs of all."

Maria Marchyshyn, Lead Researcher on Trade at University of Toronto's G7 Research Group, and Advisory Board Member at OWIT-Toronto authored the article 'G7 Performance on Trade' before the upcoming G7 summit to be held on June 11-13 at Carbis Bay, UK.

To read the full article, please visit the publication by the G7 Research Group, which also includes contributions by heads of states, international organizations as well as experts on various global issues. (p. 52-53)

OWIT-Toronto Presents Tri-Series of Personal Branding

Sun, 16 May 2021 12:18:44 GMT

Either entrepreneurs or professionals, everybody need to develop a brand for themselves. Whatever your area of expertise, you can take steps to make people think of you when they think of your field.

Online presence is one of the keys to success today, but where to start to build your own personal branding? If you have the same questions, we invite you to our tri-series titled Fundamentals of Personal Branding, How to Build Your Personal Branding, and Dress for Success!

Our guest speakers will share the basics of the topic as well as some tips. We will also have a raffle prize in each session for our members!

To renew or become a member visit here.

Do not forget to reserve your spot for the second event!

FITT Global Mentorship Pilot Program

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 15:11:07 GMT

The FITT Global Mentorship Pilot Progam is a FREE 6-month virtual mentorship program featuring an all-CITP mentor roster. Created for the international business community, it helps students, entrepreneurs, and employees from anywhere in the world, with any amount of work experience or tenure, access support, guidance, and expertise to level up their careers or businesses alongside seasoned FITT Certified International Trade Professional CITP®|FIBP® mentors.

Dates and deadlines

Applications are open from now until May 14th, after which 5 initial mentees will be selected and have their names announced publicly. Mentorship will commence in June. The program will run from June 1 - November 30, 2021.

Apply now

Who can participate?

Students, entrepreneurs, and employees from anywhere in the world with any amount of work experience or tenure are welcome to apply. A total of 10 participants (5 mentors and 5 mentees) will be selected to join. We will look to expand based on results and demand.

How does the program work?

Interested individuals must fill out our application form. We will select and announce 5 mentees and match them with a mentor that best suits their profile and application answers. Orientation will take place in a group setting in June and the mentor and mentee will meet weekly for the first month. They will set their preferred schedule thereafter. Mentorship will take place on a 1:1 virtual channel, mutually agreed upon by mentor and mentee.

Why is this a pilot program?

Based on popular demand, FITT is testing this Global Mentorship Pilot Program to best understand how to meet our community’s needs and open more doors for the international business profession.  Feedback received from participants will help us improve future iterations of the program. Currently, the pilot program will be offered in English only. We will work to expand based on demand and availability.

Members on Stage

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 14:44:26 GMT

Look where OWIT-Toronto members have been featured this year:

Check out this Tedx talk by Anita Agrawal, owner of Best Bargains Jewellery and Past President of OWIT-Toronto, and this news piece featuring her.
OWIT-TO President Helen Hemmingsen represented OWIT at the joint Casa Foundation/OWIT Women Inspire 2021: Women in Business & Leadership Forum, and at the launch of the first virtual Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) for women both during International Women’s Day week.
KC Goudiam of B2B Match spoke at events celebrating International Women’s Day, including Women Inspire 2021.
Several OWIT-Toronto members, including Diane Reko, and Susan Baka are included in the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub’s See it. Be it. Database. It’s a resource featuring 1000+ profiles of successful women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, sectors, experiences and regions across Canada who have received awards for their accomplishments. Its tagline? Because women need to see successful women entrepreneurs so they can dare become one.
Congratulations to Jessica Horwitz on becoming a partner at Bennett Jones. Jessica specializes in international trade, customs, and regulatory compliance. She represents Canadian and international clients in trade disputes and investigations, assisting clients with import/export issues including customs compliance, export controls and economic sanctions, and anti-corruption compliance and international investment matters. Jessica has been an invaluable member of OWIT-Toronto and we appreciate the ongoing support and sponsorship from Jessica and her colleagues at Bennett Jones as corporate members of OWIT-Toronto.

Trade Policy Committee Update

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 14:15:50 GMT

From submitting consultation papers to participating in stakeholder groups, the past year has been a busy period for OWIT-Toronto’s Trade Policy Committee members. And the upcoming months promise more of the same.

Here is where we have participated since the fall of 2020:

Gender and Trade Advisory Group (GTAG) to provide suggestions to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for new provisions in free trade agreements (FTAs) and to its Sub-Committee to provide feedback on gender-based analysis (GBA+) of FTAs and trade policy
Virtual business roundtable (Feb 2021) to share views on a possible comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with Indonesia
USMCA SME Counselling Network Pilot Program: to strengthen ties across borders and share best practices with other country counterparts
Submission on a possible Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Feb 2021)

In the coming months, we will be submitting comments on an anticipated bilateral Canada-U.K. free trade agreement and a possible U.K. accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). We will also consider possible input to the G7 and G20 meetings (June 2021) and to the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (November 2021) at which Canada will be proposing a gender and trade related roadmap.

Update Your OWIT-Toronto Member Profile

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 14:46:04 GMT

This is a gentle reminder to all of our OWIT-Toronto members to update and refresh your profile. You can get access via your log-in at the top right hand side of the home page. Your profile will be included in our Members Directory, which is accessible only to other OWIT-Toronto members. A photo will greatly enhance your profile.

Helen Hemmingsen, President

Key Advice To Small Business Owners For 2021 By Mary Ng

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 18:58:13 GMT

What is your Key Advice To Small Business Owners For 2021?

This past year has been an incredibly challenging time for small businesses, which have faced the pandemic with extraordinary resilience, innovation, and recognition that above all, we must all prioritize the health and safety of those around us. With the vaccine rollout, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

From the beginning, our government committed to doing everything it takes to support small businesses and entrepreneurs until we defeat the virus. I encourage eligible businesses to continue using support programs available to them– like the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, Canada Emergency Business Account, and the new Canada Emergency Rent Support – all of which are critical in enabling our businesses and economy to weather the storm and prepare for a quick and full recovery.

Looking further ahead, we know that advancing digital trade and e-commerce is one of the best ways we can support our businesses, introduce them to more customers domestically and internationally, and help them bounce back.

In addition, our government is also focused on creating and expanding programs and resources that help more entrepreneurs see themselves as traders globally and bring their innovative Canadian products and services far and wide. We are taking a Team Canada approach to this and ensuring all businesses have access to our Trade Toolbox: Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service, Export Development Canada, the Business Development Bank of Canada, the Canadian Commercial Corporation – all of which are there to help Canadian businesses continue to succeed internationally.

We cannot do this alone. To all the business owners and entrepreneurs who have stepped up to support our communities in one of the most difficult periods in modern history – thank you. Know that you can count on us to continue providing crucial supports to get you through this pandemic and be well-positioned for future success.

See the original article here.

Doing business in the agri-food sector in Mexico Event Details and More

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 15:48:49 GMT

EDC is organizing a webinar series on exploring opportunities in Mexico, and first session "Doing business in the agri-food sector in Mexico" was a success!

If you are interested in the market and missed the first part of the series:

Here is the recording of the event for a limited period of time.

Here is the presentation of the event.

The second session of the series "Overview of Food Labelling Requirements in Mexico for Retail Sale" was held on 21 January 2020, Thursday.

Here is the recording of the event for a limited period of time.

Here is the presentation of the event.

You can also register for the third session here.

Trudeau shuffles senior ministers, puts Champagne in Innovation and Garneau at Global Affairs

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 14:11:22 GMT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a cabinet shuffle Tuesday that changed the leadership of senior portfolios such as Global Affairs and Transport and announced that minister Navdeep Bains is leaving federal politics.

The move will add fuel to speculation that the Liberal government is seriously considering the possibility of a spring election, even though the party was re-elected with a minority mandate a little over a year ago.

François-Philippe Champagne will move from Global Affairs in order to replace Mr. Bains as head of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Marc Garneau is being moved from Transport to Global Affairs.

Mississauga Centre Liberal MP Omar Alghabra is being promoted into cabinet to replace Mr. Garneau at Transport and Jim Carr returns to cabinet as a minister without a department while continuing in his role as special representative for the prairies. Mr. Carr had left cabinet following the 2019 election due to a cancer diagnosis.

A senior government insider said the shuffle was triggered by Mr. Bains’ decision to step down from his position as Innovation Minister and leave federal politics. The insider said the Prime Minister was taken aback by Mr. Bains’ decision. Mr. Bains told Mr. Trudeau that his wife wanted to get back to work and he wanted to spend more time with his daughters who are becoming teenagers. He told Mr. Trudeau it was time to give back to his family, the insider said.

See full article on the Globe and Mail website.

WOMEN LEADERS AWARDED AT VIRTUAL TRADE CEREMONY

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 19:48:08 GMT

Christine Nakamura, Vice President, Toronto, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, is this year’s recipient of the JoAnna Townsend Excellence Award for Leadership in International Trade, presented at the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) – Toronto 16^th Annual Awards Gala, held virtually on November 25, 2020. The award recognizes an outstanding woman in Ontario who, through her business and personal networks, creates opportunities to actively support Canadian women-owned businesses in expanding globally and succeeding in the international marketplace. OWIT-Toronto launched the award several years ago in memory of JoAnna Townsend with the Canadian government - a trailblazing champion of women exporters who died in 2004 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Nakamura’s responsibilities at the foundation include facilitating trade, political, academic, and cultural engagements with Asia. She is currently on a mission to pave the way for new markets for Canadian women entrepreneurs, including a virtual trade mission to South Korea that she recently organized.

“I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive this prestigious award, said Nakamura. “I must say that the trade mission series dedicated to women-owned and women-led businesses which led me to receive the award could not have been launched without the hard work of my project team, and the support and encouragement of our sponsors, many individuals, and members of our foundation board and Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council.”

Diane Reko, CEO of Reko International Group, and Janet Stewart, CEO of WeLoveLearning Canada tied for Woman Exporter of the Year. Reko, whose company exports robotic automation solutions, tooling, and machined components mainly to the US and Mexico, is a pillar in the Windsor manufacturing community. She serves as a strong mentor for females in manufacturing.

Janet Stewart, CEO of WeLoveLearning which designs online learning solutions across all types of devices, has secured clients in Jamaica, the US and Mexico and is working on both UN sponsored projects as well as those being led by the Commonwealth Technology Organization, the Commonwealth Business Women’s Network and the Kenya Diaspora Alliance.

Winner of the Student of the Year Award is Rachel Zlatar of McMaster University who has built a technology-based social enterprise providing a digital presence to street vendors and micro-enterprises in tourism hubs across Latin America.

Other highlights of the Awards evening included congratulatory greetings from Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, and from Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. According to Minister Freeland, “As we work hard to recover from the damage Covid has done to our economy, we are going to need rules-based international trade more than ever, and we are going to need great Canadian leaders like some of the women who are being honoured by OWIT.” Minister Ng also congratulated OWIT-Toronto women for their efforts in empowering women in trade and said “We all know that when women are involved in trade everyone benefits. By including women in our economy, we have the potential to add $150 billion to the Canadian economy.”

Another highlight of the awards night was the participation of our sister chapter president, Anca Sattler, of OWIT-Ottawa.

The 16^th Annual Export Awards Program was sponsored by the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, EDC, BMO, UPS Canada, Jewels4Ever and the City of Toronto.

You can see the video recording of the event here.

About OWIT

The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) is an international non-profit professional organization, with chapters around the world (www.owit.org) , dedicated to advancing global trade opportunities for women. There are two active Canadian chapters: Toronto (www.owit-toronto.ca) and Ottawa (www.owit-ottawa.ca).

OWIT-Toronto partners with Toronto Business Development Centre

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 01:32:48 GMT

OWIT-Toronto is partnering with Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC) to foster women entrepreneurship, empowerment and advancement in international trade. The partnership seeks to leverage existing resources, expertise and capabilities to nurture women-led businesses to grow and tap into domestic, regional and international business opportunities.

TBDC was established in 1990 by the City of Toronto with support from the Ministry of Economic Development of Trade in Ontario, as one of the designated Canadian business incubators under the Start-up Visa Program. TBDC has been locally, nationally and internationally recognized for its efforts in nurturing the growth of new and emerging businesses in the Greater Toronto Area. It has also been acclaimed as one of Canada’s leading business incubators in fostering an entrepreneurial community, providing business support and establishing investor relations. TBDC has helped over 9000+ start-ups (domestic and international) over the years.

As part of the OWIT-Toronto and TBDC partnership, TBDC will be offering business advisory services on a case-by-case need-basis to OWIT-Toronto members. TBDC will also offer educational information sessions including market briefings and intelligence reports about international markets as well as a facilitation to related networks.

Neha Bahl, Executive Director and President of TBDC warmly welcomed this collaboration. “TBDC's mandate is supporting businesses that contribute to advancing career opportunities and empowerment for women. OWIT-Toronto is an important organization that creates opportunities for women to develop their leadership skills and visibility, and we are very proud to collaborate and foster women entrepreneurship,” she noted.

Helen Hemmingsen, President of OWIT-Toronto expressed pleasure to work in partnership with TBDC. “We are very pleased to partner with TBDC to support and advance women entrepreneurship and participation in international trade. Through OWIT-Toronto, TBDC’s Start-up Visa women entrepreneurs and clients will be able to have a soft-landing pad to develop and take their businesses global utilizing OWIT-Toronto’s global networks, resources and export education,” Helen said. “Likewise, OWIT-Toronto members will have the opportunity to seek insights from TBDC’s international clients and acquire knowledge on the dynamism of doing business in respective international markets.”

The strategic partnership between OWIT-Toronto and TBDC is quite timely and beneficial especially now that the COVID- 19 pandemic has put women’s entrepreneurship at a greater risk. Collaborating with like-minded organizations that foster women’s entrepreneurship creates pathways to navigate the crisis for both OWIT-Toronto’s members and TBDC’s clients. The partnership provides for information sharing, best practices and lessons learned which are crucial for businesses to pivot, stay the course and expand in domestic and international markets.

Trade Policy Committee Update

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 13:28:28 GMT

Members of our Trade Policy Committee and Board have been busy after receiving a number of invitations from the federal government to provide input as stakeholders on gender and trade policy, on Investment facilitation and on feminist foreign policy. Here is where OWIT-Toronto is participating:

Gender and Trade Advisory Group. The Group has been created to play a pivotal role in advancing important conversations on trade and gender by engaging Canadians from all sectors and regions across Canada. This initiative aims to provide a forum for government and experts to hear from women-owned businesses on their challenges, concerns, and successes; receive feedback on our Trade and Gender chapter provisions for trade agreements and other trade policy issues; and build knowledge and capacity of the Gender and Trade Advisory Group members on trade policy. The plan is also to establish a sub-group that focuses on Gender Based Analysis of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

The inaugural meeting took place on October 28. Trade Policy Committee Co-Chair Susan Baka expressed the hope that that gender chapters included in FTAs, although certainly a good step, should move beyond being just aspirational in nature and next include clear measurements.

World Trade Organization (WTO) framework on investment facilitation: VP Partnerships Justine Namara and Trade Policy Committee Co-Chair Maria Marchyshyn prepared a very comprehensive OWIT- Toronto submission on a potential World Trade Organization (WTO) framework on investment facilitation. A group of WTO Members, including Canada, is holding discussions on a WTO framework for development to improve the transparency and predictability of investment measures; streamline and speed up administrative procedures and requirements; and enhance international cooperation and stakeholder relations.

Canada launched public consultations to hear from a broad range of partners, stakeholders, and individual Canadians to help define Canada’s priorities and inform future decisions on a potential WTO framework, particularly in areas of creating a more efficient, predictable, and investment-friendly business climate. By getting rid of unnecessary "red tape", it will be easier for businesses, particularly SMEs, to grow and to create good jobs for Canadians. The information gained from the public consultations will help inform Canada’s approach to the development of the framework. It is anticipated that formal WTO negotiations on the framework will begin in the coming months. The negotiations will not address market access, investment protection, or investor-state dispute settlement.

OWIT-TO’s submission addressed investment barriers and particular challenges faced by SMEs abroad, along with recommendations for a WTO framework.

North American SME Counseling Network Pilot Program: OWIT-TO has accepted an invitation to be part of this trilateral Canada-U.S.-Mexico initiative to establish a network of small and medium sized enterprise (SME) counselling organizations for a pilot program. The objective of te program is to connect SME counselling groups operating in North America to facilitate the exchange of information and best practices, as well as engage in joint activities with the ultimate aim of building a peer network.

This initiative is one of the first activities proposed under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) Committee on SME issues, which is tasked with promoting increased trade and investment opportunities for SMEs, including through cooperation on support initiatives, joint activities to promote SMEs owned by under-represented groups, and the exchange of information and best practices.

Dialogue on Canada’s Feminist Foreign Policy White Paper. Over the last four years, the Canadian Government has made advancing diversity and inclusion, including gender equality and women’s empowerment, vital elements of its domestic and foreign policies. In this context, it has been applying a feminist approach across its international policy, advocacy and program efforts, including in diplomacy, trade, security, international assistance and consular services. This reflects a belief that fostering rights- based, inclusive and open societies is an effective way to build a safer, more sustainable and prosperous world.

Minister of Foreign Affairs François-Philippe Champagne announced a few months ago his intention to strengthen the foundations of Canada’s feminist foreign policy by working with civil society on a white paper. Our Trade Policy Committee will be providing input.

OWIT-Toronto Partners with B2BeeMatch

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 02:08:14 GMT

OWIT-Toronto is partnering with B2BeeMatch to help small- and medium-sized women-led enterprises to connect and network with leading local, domestic and global businesses. The partnership was formally announced at OWIT-Toronto’s complimentary virtual event, “COVID-19: A Call for Digital Transformation” in September, which brought together industry thought leaders and technology subject matter experts to share knowledge and insights on innovative solutions to embrace the accelerating shift toward digital business.

B2BeeMatch.com is a membership-based business matchmaking platform launched in 2020 where small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can connect in order to outsource, scale, network and find clients. Using a proprietary algorithm, B2BeeMatch carefully matches growing businesses and service firms based on their needs and offerings.

B2BeeMatch facilitates business networking and lead generation at the local, domestic, and global levels, and vets every company that joins the platform. As part of the partnership, B2BeeMatch is currently offering free memberships to encourage key company decision-makers—such as members of OWIT-Toronto—to join the growing platform.

Karima-Catherine (KC) Goundiam, founder and CEO of B2BeeMatch.com emphasizes B2BeeMatch’s mission to help SMEs thrive, highlighting, “As a business owner, I know how tough it can be to scale and expand, particularly internationally. Under COVID-19, with travel restrictions, it’s especially challenging. I created B2BeeMatch to help us all connect in a way that no other platform does, and while I founded the platform before the pandemic, it’s growing organically under these new conditions and that growth benefits every member who joins.”

Helen Hemmingsen, President of OWIT-Toronto Chapter, warmly welcomed this collaboration. “OWIT-Toronto is very pleased to partner with B2BeeMatch to help generate new industry connections for women-led businesses through intelligent matchmaking,” Helen said. “With the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, digital adoption, marketing and innovative tools are crucial to fuel international trade and build business resilience. These are critical to ensure business scalability and readiness in a trustworthy environment.”

The B2BeeMatch platform was created by and for SMEs. OWIT-Toronto members can sign up for next-level business matchmaking on the B2BeeMatch website.

Canada and ASEAN’s 10 Member States Renewed Their Commitment

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 18:36:42 GMT

Photo by Mary Ng

Canada and ASEAN’s 10 member states renewed their commitment to deepen economic relations by endorsing the new, 2021-2025 Work Plan to the 2011 Canada-ASEAN Joint Declaration on Trade and Investment. The Work Plan paves the way for us to build on these shared priorities and strong people-to-people ties to create prosperity for businesses and people in both regions.

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, virtually co-chaired—along with Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Trần Tuấn Anh—the 9th annual ASEAN Economic Ministers-Canada consultations. Mary Ng stated that “As we continue to promote open and rules-based trade, expanding Canada’s trade with ASEAN’s dynamic and fast-growing markets is a priority for Canada. With many shared goals and values between our economies, stronger economic ties with ASEAN will benefit businesses and people for years to come, particularly on the road to global economic recovery from COVID-19.”

Full text of news release here.

OWIT webinars present FTA opportunities

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 17:01:49 GMT

OWIT-Toronto hosted webinars in June on two of Canada’s major free trade agreements (FTAs) in order to help members better understand how to take advantage of them. Supported by Global Affairs Canada and the Ontario government, the first one focused on the Canada-US-Mexico Trade Agreement (CUSMA), often referred to as the new NAFTA, and was held prior to its official entry into force on July 1. It featured senior Canadian trade officials based in the three countries, who outlined key changes in the agreement and opportunities for Canadian companies. The second webinar – sponsored by the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub - highlighted specific opportunities for women exporters flowing from Canada’s FTA with the European Union - the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) - and the experiences of two women entrepreneurs successfully exporting there.

CUSMA webinar (June 3, 2020): Making the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) Work for Canadian Exporters: Perspectives from Canadian Trade Commissioners on-the ground

Moderator: Aylin Luisi, Director, OWIT-Toronto, and VP, Public Affairs, UPS Canada

Speakers:

Cristina Popovici, Deputy Director Trade Negotiations – North America (TNP), Global Affairs Canada

One of key objectives was to modernize and improve the agreement where possible.
Some of the gains include liberalized trade and good regulatory practices, new Digital Chapter, Labour and Environment Chapters with dispute resolution built in; rules of origin strengthened for autos and parts and an increase in regional value content; electronic processes to facilitate cross-border movement of goods; and IP enhancements
For Services and Investments, Canada preserves preferential access to US for professionals
Challenges of negotiations included tariffs imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum by the US.
Formal review mechanism – to be reviewed every 6 years

Susan Harper, Canadian Consul General in Miami, Florida (Susan.Harper@international.gc.ca )

As part of Global Affairs Canada, the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) has great initiatives to help Canadian companies to navigate the complexities of international markets:
Key sectors in Florida include ICT, defence, cleantech and health
COVID-19 is hitting Florida mostly in the sectors of tourism and hospitality; the supply chains are stressed but have survived.
Florida's organizations are looking into new opportunities as assistance to business has continued.
Why look at Florida as an export destination – 3 rd largest population state and 4 th largest for economy, has a very trade dependent economy and open reception to international partners, gateway to Latin America and Caribbean; Canada and Florida are very important trading partners; Florida ports and airports are very well connected. Florida has an extensive multimodal transportation system; All the big Canadian banks and Desjardins are very active there
Supplier diversity has a lot of profile in Florida - women are encouraged to look into supplier diversity options as a way to enter the market
Go For the Greens Conference is where TCS works well with Canadian women entrepreneurs.
Trade missions will continue but may be virtual this year
World Trade Centre is working to organize a trade show maybe partly online and partly on site for Canadian businesses interested in Florida, Latin America and Caribbean markets.
Tips on doing business in Florida – avoid politics talk; give yourself a competitive advantage by accessing resources who speak Spanish and Portuguese since South Florida is truly trilingual; health, food, and energy security are very important in Florida especially during COVID – be very aware of that dimension of the Canada-Florida relationship

Frederick Caldwell, Commercial Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner in Monterrey NL, Mexico (frederick.caldwell@international.gc.ca)

Canada has trade representatives in Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City.
Priority sectors for Canadian businesses in Northeast Mexico are:
- Automotive
- Information and Communications Technologies (local companies looking for AI, blockchain, mobility, cybersecurity, telehealth)
- Agri-food (gluten free, diabetic and gourmet foods are good opportunities for women exporter; Mexico City trade office has good connections with hotels)
- Clean Technologies
- Education (one of quickest growth areas – online platforms have good prospects)
- Aerospace
- Good opportunities exist to enter into supply chains
The local manufacturing industry re-started operations mid May , but the auto sector is struggling with weak demand on a worldwide level.
Owit-Monterrey and Toronto are working on a virtual trade mission

CETA Webinar- June 23, 2020: It’s Not Only about the US Anymore: Women Traders and Canada’s Free Trade Agreement with Europe (CETA)

Moderator: Susan Baka, VP International ,OWIT-TO, & President, Bay Communications & Marketing Inc.

EU is a market of over 5oo million consumers
CETA eliminates 98% of duties on Canadian goods
Improves access for trade in services and simplifies entry procedures
Commitment from both the Canadian and EU governments to help women expand internationally and take advantage of CETA
Many women’s business organizations exist in the EU that can be approached as potential partners.

Panelists:

Stéphane Lambert, Senior Trade Commissioner, Mission of Canada to the European Union, Brussels (Stephane.Lambert@international.gc.ca )

Three key reasons why CETA is highly relevant to Canadian women exporters: 1. EU is an economy power asset of high-income markets with plenty of opportunities for Canadian exporters; 2. profile of the opportunities aligns well with the strengths of Canadian women explorers, providing opportunities in niche sectors where women excel, including services; and 3. CETA addresses non-tariff barriers to trade that omen exporters are sensitive to, such as regulations, compliance and customs clearance, making it easier to access the benefits.
Other advantages of CETA: has mobility provisions that make it smooth to enter the EU for a period of up to a year to deliver a contract and to establish a presence in the EU to move staff between Canada and the EU; opens up public procurement at all levels of government to Canadian businesses
Key trends that match the strengths of women exporters include: selling digitally (demand for e-commerce, mobility solutions, software as a service, telework, building a more resilient workplace); modernization of healthcare (need for telehealth, digitization of health records, health data management, health wearables, e-help for home care platforms and applications for smartphones); building a more sustainable economy/ethical consumerism/, emphasis on green (demand for more sustainably sourced products and natural ingredients, natural cosmetics like soaps, sustainably sourced fish and seafood, responsible packaging); healthy eating and healthy living (demand for organic and gluten-free foods, healthy snacks, sustainable household products)
Resources to help women leverage CETA include: regional offices of the Trade Commissioner Service, including a dedicated person to connect with Canadian women exporters; in-market trade commissioners; Business Women in International Trade activities within the TCS, including an annual newsletter and trade missions for women; the women’s ecosystem, including OWIT and women’s networks in the EU; and the broad trade ecosystem, including EDC and BDC, and logistics providers such as custom brokers and freight forwarders.

Shamira Jaffer, CEO, Signifi Solutions Inc., Toronto

Signifi is an innovative robotic business to transform the retail landscape focusing on management, loss prevention and retail automation, with exports at 95%, of which 9% is to Europe.
Europe is attractive because of the large size of the market, the cultural fit - with Canadians well liked there – and streamlined processes under CETA (such as no tariffs).
Tips for success: have a local representative; access the free services of the TCS for help and advice (will make sure you don’t fall into any pitfalls like employment rules); tap into CanExport funding for things like translating websites into foreign languages, creating marketing brochures, attending trade shows, and hiring a local consultant to help set up an entity; and find something you have in common with potential clients because Europeans put more efforts into getting to know you on a more personal level.

Manon Pilon, President & CEO, Laboratoires Druide® & EuropeLab Laboratory®; Founder, Derme & Co., Montreal

Large manufacturer of organic certified skincare products, using sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients, with divisions for spa, personal care and private label skin care.
Chose France to export to because of language and appreciation for organic products.
Certifying with the largest organization in the world was helpful to penetrate the market. That combined with the high Canadian standards for natural skincare products placed the company in a very favourable position.
Biggest challenge was to register the product and ensure that the label content resonated with consumers. Local help with regulatory expertise was sought.
Tips for success: Utilize Trade Commissioners who are like partners (were very helpful in making introductions for her company to key players in the Parisian market like Four Seasons); attend trade shows and meet people in your industry; and join organizations, network and help each other.

Institute receives grant to strengthen inclusive entrepreneurship

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:11:55 GMT

The prestigious Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Grant of over $2.4 million was recently awarded to the Diversity Institute. The grant money will be used to undertake a research project over six years examining the barriers faced by women and diverse groups such as immigrants, racialized people, indigenous people and persons with disabilities. It will also lead on strategies to strengthen an inclusive innovative and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The project has a goal of engaging more than 1000 stakeholder organizations and 100,000 entrepreneurs.

The Diversity Institute bid was supported by OWIT-Toronto. The grant is quite timely to help bring to light a gender and diversity lens to entrepreneurship, identify barriers and, more importantly, recommend practices to overcome these barriers in order to drive forward an inclusive economic recovery. The research project will leverage work being done by the Future Skills Centre and the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub.

“We know that women and diverse groups continue to face systemic barriers,” says Prof Wendy Cukier, Founder Diversity Institute, Ted Rogers School of Management and Professor of Entrepreneurship, Ryerson University. “As Canada responds to the pandemic, preliminary research shows that women and diverse groups are disproportionality impacted and there is a risk that we will lose the traction we have gained on gender and diversity.”

New Sharing Platform for Women Entrepreneurs

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:08:59 GMT

The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), in partnership with the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE), launched a new sharing intuitive platform built by SheEO. The platform provides a support system and network for women entrepreneurs to overcome the challenges and impact of COVID-19 on their businesses. It also helps to sustain the great strides women entrepreneurs in Canada have made and continues to encourage and empower those entering the field for the first time.

The WEKH/FWE Sharing Platform allows members of the women entrepreneurship ecosystem to draw from the knowledge and reach of the community and share their own learnings to access business opportunities and collaboratively tackle challenges. Through the platform, if you have a specific need, post an Ask that someone who can help may respond to. If you can share something beneficial with another member of the community, offer a Give.

Facilitated Ask/Give sessions are running each Thursday in August from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. EST. Join the community and learn more about the platform and how you can use it to connect with your members and clients, and women entrepreneurs across Canada.

Women’s Global Trade Empowerment Forum begins

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:04:09 GMT

The 2020 Inaugural Women’s Global Trade Empowerment Forum presented by the US Commercial Service under the theme “Expanding Trade in North America & Beyond” was kickstarted on July 28. The six-part digital series is a must-attend event for women entrepreneurs in Canada, the US and Mexico who wish to boldly grow their business into new markets.

In light of the implementation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the forum provides an opportunity to gain the tools, skills and networks to build an export strategy and develop business connections. The first day of the virtual forum was focused on “USMCA and the Future of Trade in North America: Expanding and Diversifying Sales” which highlighted perspectives from government on CUSMA’s business impact and private sector women business leaders on how the Trade Agreement could help to expand and diversify sales throughout the region.

The session focused on an integrated approach to women’s economic empowerment, the utilization of CUSMA as a powerful trade catalyst to ensure that North America remains an economic powerhouse and CUSMA provisions that elevate women’s voices and entrepreneurship, making women SMEs more competitive. Key trade chapters that advance women’s interests were discussed including the SME chapter, labour, customs and trade facilitation chapter, as well as digital trade and investment chapters.

Key tips and strategies were shared on leveraging exporting as a long-term growth strategy, integrating ecommerce as a key driver of this strategy, becoming conversant with government programs and ensuring a high level of due diligence when conducting business.

OWIT-International is a proud partner of the Forum. Complimentary registrations are open for the next virtual series.

August 11

12:00-1:00PM EDT

Financing the Deal and Getting Paid

August 25

12:00-1:00PM EDT

Thriving in the Digital Trade Economy Under USMCA

September 1

12:00-1:00PM EDT

Making USMCA Work for You: Customs & Rules of Origin

September 10

12:00-1:00PM EDT

Improving the Legal Framework

September 22

12:00-1:30PM EDT

Protecting your most Important Asset - Your IP, Woman-Owned Business Success Stories

Member Spotlight: ISR leads on innovative safety clothing

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 14:49:41 GMT

Lyse Moreau has continued the strong legacy and tradition of a woman-owned firm thriving in the Niagara region. International Sew Right (ISR) was founded by Lyse’s mother, Claudette Gauthier, in 1983. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Lyse began working at ISR in the 1980s, and became partners with her mother in 2001, making positive changes to get ISR ready to export. In 2006, she became the sole owner and, in 2011, ISR became a 100% woman-owned manufacturing facility.

Her 8,500 square-foot company facility is located in the industrial park near Chippawa in Niagara, with a dedicated team of eight employees, focused on importing and exporting uniquely improved safety garments and products. ISR’s core business over the years has been dedicated to custom-designing and manufacturing safety clothing, focusing on proximity suits, arc flash protection, high heat, fire-retardant and high-visibility clothing, coveralls, bib overalls, shop coats, aprons, sleeves, head protection, welders clothing and tarps, gloves, parkas, bomber jackets, and up to about 400 different types of safety products.

Under her leadership, Lyse has restructured operations in targeted ways that include upgrading the accounting and purchasing departments, automating cutting and sewing areas as well as redesigning the shipping and receiving departments.

Industry memberships such as those with OWIT-Toronto and the Niagara Industrial Association have been crucial to business growth. They have provided support networks, information and have supported wider market expansion, resource mobilization efforts and coordination in a sector that keeps booming.

“Business growth is always a top priority. ISR’s membership in OWIT-Toronto and the Niagara Industrial Association has been instrumental,” Lyse says. “Niagara Industrial Association members are all involved in some type of manufacturing, and they provide a good support system and information in the manufacturing field, which saves us a lot of time and is greatly appreciated.”

[left] Lyse Moreau graces the cover of the Niagara Industrial Association Magazine. [right] Lyse and team are featured in the Niagara Industrial Association Magazine.

Stepping into the gap, taking gigantic steps to product pivoting

Focusing on niche products and operating as a Tier 1 and Tier 2 company ready to assist anyone with a safety concern has meant more business wins for Lyse. This has been reflected in the number of accolades that Lyse and her company have received, including: the 2004 Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year Award; 2014 Ontario Health and Safety Golden Award (Reader’s Choice Award for Designing and Manufacturing Safety Apparel and Aluminized Clothing); 2015 Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the year; 2015 Women’s Distinguish Award for Achievements in the Industry; and 2019 The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Manufacturing Award, among others.

Like every other business around the world, ISR was affected by the unique challenges caused by COVID-19. Despite challenges with delays to receive fabrics and textiles and key raw materials for ISR’s manufactured safety products, the company has also seen larger volume orders from companies requiring to stock up on inventory. Her company further rose to the challenge and championed the COVID-19 support program, which signalled ISR’s product pivot to making masks and a variety of other medical supplies including PET masks, face masks, hand sanitizers, gowns, lab coats and gloves. Lyse has since donated thousands of masks to frontline workers in the healthcare sector and to different communities in Ontario.

With the product pivot, ISR has since received orders to make masks from cotton, polycotton and fire-retardant fabrics for the healthcare industry. These masks are manufactured in different styles, colours, and are reaching families, nursing homes, hospitals, construction sites, foundries and other areas where they are desperately needed.

Leading by example, ISR was also quick to adopt the health and safety guidelines from medical experts, spacing all sewing machines at least six feet apart from one another, providing workers with protective items like gloves and masks, as well as following a strict cleaning schedule that included disinfecting surfaces that were regularly touched.

ISR’s domestic manufacturing base provided agility and speed to respond to the pandemic and rapidly shift to mask production. Lyse’s great oversight to restock materials before the pandemic also meant that their work was not stalled due to reliance on international vendors who couldn’t temporarily ship their products. A key lesson for Lyse and others in the manufacturing field has been an increased emphasis on self-sufficiency that will encourage domestic producers to expand their operations and resist offshoring.

“Keeping communities safe is integral to who we are at International Sew Right,” Lyse says. “We fully recognize that our company has an important role to play during this trying time of COVID-19, and we are ready to take on the gigantic steps to do all we can to help our communities to remain safe and to thrive.”

[left] ISR team at work. [right] Lyse launches the ‘COVER UP AGAINST COVID-19 CANADA’ support program, bringing together volunteers and the Niagara region community in an inclusive community engagement to sew masks to help with the shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expanding ISR’s international footprint

Lyse has been strategic in positioning ISR to ensure a competitive advantage in the global marketplace. ISR sells across Canada with a growing customer base in the US, and exports to Brazil and India, as well as plans to export to Mexico. To access the Mexico market, she participated in a trade mission organized by OWIT-Toronto in 2019 to the city of Monterrey in northeast Mexico. During this trade mission, top Canadian businesswomen were introduced to Mexican leads to leverage exporting opportunities, and this resulted in solid connections for ISR.

Lyse has also been fearless in taking her company to the next level, participating and presenting her company pitch to CBC’s auditions for TV’s Dragons’ Den in 2019 to expand business and increase the export base.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive negative industry impacts in real time, disrupting supply chains and halting exports. However, the effects of the pandemic have also resulted in an unprecedented surge in demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This has led to companies like ISR that have pivoted to making masks and a variety of other medical supplies to expand their domestic production. The longer-term effects on the industry could be an increased emphasis on domestic production capacity to support national health concerns.

The safety and protective manufacturing industry in Ontario and worldwide thrives on the occupational health and safety regulations put in place to ensure that workplaces are safe and healthy. An increasing number of regulations have been introduced to protect workers from hazardous conditions that might cause injury. Increased changes in workforce operations and industrial growth will continue to sustain demand for industry products and mitigate industry volatility.

Lyse continues to aim higher to increase ISR’s market reach internationally to meet an increased worldwide demand from construction and industrial growth that will continue to drive forward the demand for safety and protective equipment into the next decade. Memberships in associations like OWIT-Toronto will be beneficial to stay the course, providing topical international trade information and trade missions to help expand market access for women.

“Seizing global opportunities is one of our priorities, and our membership with OWIT-Toronto is therefore key in this regard,” Lyse notes. “My experience at OWIT-Toronto’s trade mission in Monterrey was an eye-opener and I am keen to look at various strategies to leverage and tap into the different connections and networks from the mission.”

[left] Lyse at the Dragons' Den auditions. [right] Lyse participates in the OWIT-Toronto trade mission in Monterrey, Mexico with top Canadian women executives.

Canada-led Ottawa Group meets on WTO reform

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 14:45:06 GMT

Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, concluded a successful Canada-led Ottawa Group meeting in June 2020 on strengthening rules-based trade and keeping supply chains open amid COVID-19 and beyond.

Canada, along with the other 12 Ottawa Group members, endorsed concrete steps contained in the Joint Statement of the Ottawa Group: Focusing Action on COVID-19. This statement establishes key actions for member countries to support an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient global recovery for Canadians.

Reiterating the importance of the multilateral, rules-based trading system underpinned by the World Trade Organization (WTO), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also participated in the virtual meeting of the Ottawa Group on WTO reform in the context of COVID-19.

Canada and the Ottawa Group have continued to provide leadership, critical thinking and analysis, as well as concrete ideas and proposals, on actions that could be undertaken on the global stage to lessen the economic impacts of COVID-19 on people around the world, and ensure more resilience when dealing with future crises.

Key actions from the joint statement include greater transparency on export restrictions, predictable and open trade in agriculture, and advancing negotiations on e-commerce. The measures ensure the stability of trade for businesses, workers and people during the pandemic by supporting the movement of goods and services people rely on. It also lays the groundwork for a potential new WTO initiative making it possible for medical supplies to flow more easily.

Canada and the Ottawa Group remain committed to the broader WTO reform agenda, including efforts toward a long-lasting solution for dispute settlement and conclusion of negotiations on harmful fisheries subsidies.

OWIT-Toronto Members in Action

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 14:05:03 GMT

July has been an active virtual month for OWIT-Toronto members, from providing guidance to Dominic Republic exporters to access Canadian markets, to participating in a virtual Asian trade mission, addressing the Women Economic Forum in India, participating in a CUSMA stakeholder call as well as presenting a digital marketing webinar, to running for a social innovative cause in support of Mexican farmers in Canada. Check out what some of our members have been up to virtually… as we remain OWIT-Toronto strong and proud!

Alma speaks at Conference Webinar Series for Dominican Republic Exporters

Alma Farias, OWIT-Toronto Board Director and Managing Director of Trade Partners, successfully delivered a presentation in a virtual three-part seminar organized by the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Canada and the Cei-RD (Centro de Exportacion e Inversion de la Republica Dominicana). The conference webinar series were officially launched by the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Canada, Pedro Vergés Ciman. These webinar discussions were focused on helping Dominican Republic exporters learn how to grow effectively in the Canadian produce market and comply with food control requirements.

Alma’s presentation, “The Canadian Import Produce Market and Opportunities for Dominican Republic Exporters”, provided an overview and analysis of the Canadian produce market and an outline of export product opportunities. Alma highlighted how Canada has one of the highest consumption rates of fresh vegetables in the world, and its imports are an integral component of the produce market and often necessary to fulfill Canadian demand year-round. Detailed discussions on the regulatory part were covered by two distinguished speakers based in Ottawa from CFIA and DRC.

Anita participates in a virtual Asian trade mission

Anita Agrawal, OWIT-Toronto’s strategic advisor and immediate past President, participated in a virtual two-week trade mission to Asia organized by the Toronto Region Board of Trade and the World Trade Centre Toronto (WTC-T). The July trade mission was organized to assist delegates representing key Canadian companies ready to expand internationally and unlock the potential of Asia’s consumer market. It provided the opportunity for Canadian brands to capitalize on commercial opportunities by tapping into the world’s largest e-commerce market and a rapidly-growing, affluent middle class, expanding their market footprint in Asia. It also provided connections for Canadian businesses to link with partners in global markets such as the Asian e-commerce giants, like Alibaba, Tmall Global, JD.com and Suning, to exchange industry best practices and sector knowledge, build connections and reflect on doing better business.

The virtual Market Activation Program (vMAP) was launched as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic which caused governments to impose travel restrictions and made in-person trade missions impossible. The WTC-T led program enables market traction for Canadian companies in global markets and helps catalyze dynamic and rapid recovery from the global pandemic. The virtual missions offer SMEs the opportunity to build and refine their export strategy with best-in-class subject matter experts and virtually meet one-on-one with industry buyers and key go-to-market partners. The “Unlocking Asia’s Consumer Market Digitally” vMAP, had a schedule jam-packed with incredible speakers, companies and one-on-one meetings. As CEO of Best Bargains Jewellery and top jewellery brand, Jewels 4Ever, Anita was pleased to receive insights to refine and adapt her company’s export and expansion strategies for digital sales. “This virtual trade mission was quite timely and effective,” says Anita. “Going digital has been given a turbo-charge by COVID-19 lockdowns, and through the vMAP, we were able to take virtual site visits to key digital platforms, innovation hubs, distributors and wholesalers to understand their supply chain and identify opportunities for commercialization. We also have business-to-business meetings with large-scale buyers, distributors, and go-to-market partners.”

Maria addresses Women Economic Forum in India

Maria Marchyshyn, OWIT-Toronto’s strategic advisor and past Board Director, spoke at the Women Economic Forum (WEF), organized out of Bangalore, India, which took place online in July 2020. Under the theme, “Economic Independence Leading to Women Empowerment”, Maria elaborated on various ways that organizations and individuals work to achieve gender equality and women empowerment. She focused in particular on the importance of women’s economic empowerment and financial independence, emphasizing that it is not only about increasing women's access to jobs, but also to economic resources and opportunities, to financial services, to owning property and other assets and to ensuring access to markets and skills development. Maria suggested that women need to educate themselves more on finance and business; she encouraged women to find employment or start their own businesses and described its numerous benefits, other than just financial. She further stressed the importance of developing networks and joining organizations like OWIT, where women can turn for information, support and advice. Maria spoke widely on OWIT, its mission and its international presence and encouraged women to consider opening an OWIT chapter in India. As part of her participation, she received a WEF award.

Susan participates in CUSMA stakeholder call… and presents digital marketing webinar

Just prior to CUSMA (the new NAFTA) coming into force on July 1, VP-International Susan Baka represented OWIT-Toronto in a stakeholder call where CUSMA Chief Negotiator Steve Verheul expressed appreciation for stakeholder input throughout the negotiations. Although Canada would have preferred that implementation of the agreement be delayed due to the disruptions to businesses caused by COVID-19, the government is striving to make transition to CUSMA as smooth as possible to enable companies to take advantage of it as soon as possible. He said the situation going forward will be fluid as there are still some issues and challenges, and he encouraged continuing input from stakeholders.

In her role as Ontario Regional Representative for TFO Canada (Trade Facilitation Office Canada), Susan also presented a webinar in July for small and medium exporters from developing countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa. Selling in a New World: It’s All About Digital Marketing emphasized the increasing importance of digital marketing and e-commerce fuelled by the pandemic. Susan outlined digital marketing trends such as the exploding growth of social media and she shared best practices for effective websites, email marketing, blogging and e-commerce. TFO Canada helps exporters from developing countries access the North American market.

Priti runs for a social innovation cause for Mexican farmers’ families in Canada

OWIT-Toronto Board Director and VP-Events Priti Ruparel took part in a virtual 5 Km race in July as part of the “Corre Por Ellos” Challenge organized by the Mexico Business Club. The charitable cause was to support the family members of the Mexican farmers in Canada who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. She completed her 5 Km challenge in 29 mins. 55 secs, coming in 7th out of 48 runners. Fellow Board Director Alma Farias sponsored and nominated Priti for this noble cause. This platform provided a unique opportunity to link sports with social impact, giving necessary support to those who needed it the most. Participants in the race either ran or walked for 5 Km on Saturday July 25 or Sunday July 26, at a convenient time and place.

Priti dedicated her 5 Km race to Alma for having faith in her and making her part of such a wonderful initiative. A passionate half-marathoner, Priti also expressed immense pleasure to be part of this sincere cause especially during these challenging times caused by the pandemic. “The Corre Por Ellos Challenge gave me a sense of purpose as a runner,” Priti said. “No words to express the joy and happiness.” Now that’s our definition of women uplifting each other and their communities!

Language and Culture: Gateway and Tips to Hispanic Export Markets

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 15:46:03 GMT

OWIT-Toronto in partnership with Language Advantage Inc. organized a webinar focused on the importance of speaking the client’s language when developing export plans in Hispanic Markets. Moderated by OWIT-Toronto Board Director, Alma Farias of Trade Partners, the webinar provided strategies on accessing the Hispanic export markets through engagement and cultural awareness, and through language the most common characteristic of Hispanic culture.

Catherine Jodar of Language Advantage Inc. emphasized that cultural competency and foreign language are critical, and has become a valuable contributor to international business success. For example, one in four US employers lost business due to lack of language skills (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) and American businesses lost more than US$2 billion a year due to cultural misunderstandings. She also underscored the three cultural competencies that could make or break a foreign business deal including time, trust and business style.

Lyse Moreau of International Sew Right reflected on her first trade mission to Monterrey in Mexico organized by OWIT-Toronto. She noted the very open and receptive nature of the people and cleared up any misunderstandings of doing business in the region, as she found it very safe, with good access to technology and connectivity. She highlighted the importance of speaking the Spanish language to create more personal connections and bolster business deals.

Providing key tips on accessing Hispanic export markets, Fabiola Sicard of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade explained the business culture of Mexico and Latin American countries. Conducting business in Mexico and Latin America is relationship based rather than transactional, so there is need to invest time in building relationships, participating in long business meetings and social gatherings. Formal dress code is strongly encouraged and hierarchy followed so it is important to understand the organizational chart of potential partners or clientele and to figure out decision makers and influencers. There is less formality with regards to time and punctuality, and it’s important to be straightforward when there is an issue when dealing with Mexicans.

Fabiola also strongly recommended the use of Canadian resources available to exporters such as the Trade Commissioner Service which helps Canadian companies reach target markets, and the Ontario Trade and Investment Office in Mexico which provides one on one consultations, market intelligence, and assistance in finding partners/prospects.

In an interactive learning session, which included a prize, participants learned key communication differences in different Hispanic markets. A free offer for OWIT-Toronto members to learn Spanish for six weeks was also announced, as well as discounted customized courses by Language Advantage Inc. for OWIT-Toronto members. And in a lively Q&A format, the panelists shared more tips to become more culturally aware and ensure success doing business in different Hispanic markets. It was also noted that it is easier to do business in Hispanic countries with which Canada has Free Trade Agreements.

A list of useful links and resources was also provided to support accessing Hispanic export markets:

Ontario Trade Calendar

Contact Information Trade Commissioners in Mexico City

Contact Information Trade Commissioners in Monterrey

Contact Information Trade Commissioners in Guadalajara

The event recording can be accessed here.

International Sew Right champions COVID-19 support program donating over 32,000 masks including to OWIT-Toronto

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 19:16:48 GMT

‘COVER UP AGAINST COVID-19 CANADA’ program was kickstarted by Lyse Moreau, President of International Sew Right (ISR) together with her team, business associates, volunteers and the Niagara region community in April 2020. ISR is a woman owned diversified company that imports and exports uniquely improved safety garments and products. The company manufactures and custom designs safety clothing, medical, lanyard clothing, working at heights clothing, women's wear and comfort wear as well as men’s work wear. The

ISR COVID-19 support program signalled ISR’s product pivot to making masks. Initially, this began as an answer to community support when Lyse received a phone call from a patient receiving dialysis treatment who required masks to continue receiving treatment at the hospital. With a firm affirmative response, Lyse knew what role ISR could play to help control the community spread of the coronavirus.

With immediate effect, masks making went into full swing production and since then, they have received orders to make masks for the healthcare industry from cotton, polycotton and fire-retardant fabrics. These masks are manufactured in different styles, colors, and are reaching families, nursing homes, hospitals, construction sites, foundries and other areas where they are desperately needed. Medical supplies produced now include PET masks, face masks, hand sanitizers, gowns, lab coats and gloves.

With the initial launch of the program, 23,000 masks were donated in three weeks, reaching far and wide, including to children in Toronto. Lyse notes the extraordinary delight she has felt on seeing children covered up, the gratitude received from different people as well as the inclusive community engagement in the program. The social impact has had far-reaching results reflecting strong Canadian pride and joy in supporting the first responders and the hospitals.

Lyse Moreau, a proud OWIT-Toronto member is extending these benefits to fellow OWIT members in Toronto, donating 3,000 masks to the organization. “Keeping communities safe is integral to who we are at International Sew Right”, Lyse says, “We fully recognize that our company has an important role to play during this trying time of COVID-19, and we are ready to take on the gigantic steps to do all we can to help our communities to remain safe and to thrive.”

OWIT-Toronto members will be receiving up to 3,000 free masks on a first-come first-serve basis paying only for shipment charges. The face masks have been packaged in a set of 24 per bag, and shipment is available while stock last. Helen Hemmingsen, President OWIT-Toronto welcomed the very generous offer from Lyse Moreau and the ISR team, noting, “We are greatly inspired by how Lyse Moreau and her team at International Sew Right came together to quickly pivot their business to support the community with COVID-19 protective solutions. We hope to share these uplifting stories and lessons to the rest of our members to support each other in creating innovative strategies for business evolutions during the pandemic.”

Individual masks for retail are available, with single masks going for $6.99 each, double fabric masks at $8.50 each and double fabric masks with replaceable filters at $15.00 each. For orders and more information, please contact Lyse Moreau at Lyse@safetyclothing.com and the ISR website for more on their innovative protective product catalogue.

Assessing the Impact of Trade Agreements on Gender Equality: Canada-EU CETA

Mon, 11 May 2020 20:27:07 GMT

The impact of trade and trade policies is shaped by the structure of markets and institutions and the gender inequalities that are embedded within them. Trade policies and agreements influence the opportunities of women and men to access secure and decent employment and to benefit from international trade. To set the issues in context, the brief focuses on gender and trade issues relevant to Canada and the European Union, and recommendations are applied specifically to the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Get the report here.

Resource Information Publisher: WE EMPOWER Programme of EU, ILO & UN Women, UNCTAD

Moving the dial towards empowering women to trade globally

Sat, 02 May 2020 19:56:46 GMT

*This article was originally published in The Canadian Business Quarterly available here.

On the occasion of the recently celebrated International Women’s Day, and its key theme, “Each for Equal. An equal world is an enabled world”, we pause and reflect on what this means in terms of empowering and advancing women in international trade. Without a doubt, gender equality and women’s economic empowerment are essential to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to achieve inclusive growth, leaving no-one behind. Momentum has been gaining in international trade institutions in recent years to better recognize the potential of women-owned businesses and support their growth.

Rocky challenges

Women entrepreneurs are growing in leaps and bounds around the world and are increasingly an important driver of economic growth, but they continue to remain underrepresented in global trade and participation in global value chains. Only one in five women export and women-owned firms win only one to two percent of multinational corporate and government procurement contracts. Women-owned businesses are often concentrated in service sectors and informal sectors that are less trade intensive. Many lack resources needed to expand beyond borders, including access to contacts, education and financing. In some countries, there are still legal barriers that prevent women from owning land and accessing financing, plus cultural biases exist. Even in developed countries, women tend to self finance which limits their growth. In addition, although considered gender neutral, trade agreements can affect women and men differently. Historically, they have been negotiated without a gender lens and failed to take into account the needs of women and the impacts of agreements on them.

Women entrepreneurship making waves

Research shows that women continue to play a central role in the rise of the entrepreneurial economy in Canada, launching businesses at higher rates than before, often outpacing men. And, according to Startup Canada, Canadian women entrepreneurs have been taking on the business world despite barriers and disparities in funding and representation, contributing $148 billion annually to the economy while employing 1.5 million Canadians. According to a report, greater efforts to harness the power of women in the economy could boost Canada’s annual GDP by $150 billion in 2026. This reflects the immense potential for unparalleled growth and represents a significant stimulus for Canada’s economic growth and prosperity. On the global front, if women participated in the economy on equal footing as men in the labour market, this could add as much as $28 trillion, or a 26% increase over current growth, to global annual GDP by 2025.

Global call to action

Set against this backdrop, the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) was formed back in the 1980s in the US. Its story is part of the journey towards gender equality, with a focus on empowering women to trade globally. A not-for-profit global association, OWIT’s mission is to advance women in international trade and business, engaging over 2,000-plus members and 20 chapters around the globe that impact hundreds of millions of dollars in trade and business transactions annually. The organization provides education, information and high-quality networking. OWIT has local chapters in Canada, in Toronto and Ottawa. As the first Canadian chapter of this premier global trade association, OWIT–Toronto is a 20-year-old non-profit designed to promote women doing business in international trade. Through networking, educational and professional growth opportunities, the organization helps to build members’ expertise in the international trade arena. Members include women entrepreneurs, service providers, trade practitioners, executives, government representatives and business women involved in international trade as well as students passionate about international trade. OWIT-Toronto serves as a gateway to potential marketplaces through its global network, connecting women to the right contacts for support, information, education and inspiration. This includes connections to like-minded women, access to business contacts and service providers like bankers, as well as to trade missions, and information about financing programs that help support international growth. Through pursuing strategic partnerships with groups and programs both domestically and internationally that support women’s economic empowerment and global trade, OWIT-Toronto amplifies networking opportunities for its members. It also showcases role models to inspire other women and the younger generation to pursue trade careers and opportunities.

Canada’s inclusive trade approach

In Canada, tremendous strides have been taken to achieve women’s economic empowerment, and Canada already demonstrates best-in-class leadership on the international stage. The Canadian government’s policy and legal approach through its progressive trade agenda and Women Entrepreneurship Strategy provides an opportunity to double the number of women entrepreneurs by 2025. Its $2 billion investment in women’s economic and social development reflects its strong commitment. Canada has also provided resources for the expansion of Export Development Canada (EDC)’s Women in Trade investment program. The critical investments ensure that EDC is able to translate its goal of helping women-owned and -led businesses grow into new markets. And the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)’s Business Women in International Trade (BWIT) program helps Canadian women-owned businesses access new export opportunities by organizing trade missions each year. At the global level, Canada’s trade diversification strategy enables a more inclusive approach to trade that provides access to benefits and opportunities from international trade and investment to more Canadians who have traditionally been under-represented, including women, SMEs and Indigenous peoples. Canada has also been a strong proponent of the application of Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) to impact assessment, bringing this internationally recognized best practice to all realms of policy-making. Among the first in the world is a dedicated trade and gender chapter included in the modernized Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The trade and gender chapters in the Canada-Chile and Canada-Israel FTAs establish trade and gender committees to oversee cooperation activities and share experiences in designing programs that encourage women’s participation in national and international trade. Canada is also seeking to include gender chapters in FTA negotiations with the Pacific Alliance and Mercosur. Canada has been a global leader in championing and working with other partners to endorse the Joint Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment. The Buenos Aires Declaration was a decisive step, putting trade and gender on the WTO agenda like never before. The Declaration aims to promote women’s economic empowerment and tackle barriers that hamper their participation in global trade. To achieve this, it provides a platform to better understand the links between trade and women’s empowerment. Canada has hosted the first seminar organized under the Declaration, focusing on gender-disaggregated data and gender-based analysis. A number of workshops as well as research and joint studies have been done, and WTO Members championing the Declaration are currently working on its implementation report to be presented at the 12th Ministerial Conference in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan in June 2020. The report will look at ways to take this work forward.

Making global trade inroads for women

OWIT-Toronto has been supportive of Canada’s commitment in pursuing progressive and inclusive trade that benefits all. It actively engages with the government on the different programs supporting women in international trade, operating as a broker for its members to stay in touch with the latest information about government programs and their accessibility. The government, in turn, has been supportive of OWIT-Toronto’s mission, inviting participation in free trade agreement stakeholder consultations, such as the NAFTA renegotiation, and in ongoing dialogue to ensure that trade policies are better aligned with the interest of all Canadians, including women. The government has also supported trade missions organized by OWIT-Toronto to help expand market access for women. These missions provide excellent opportunities to meet valuable new contacts on the ground and build relationships that lead to new business. For example, in 2019, OWIT-Toronto led a Canadian women’s trade mission in the manufacturing, auto and ICT sectors to Monterrey, Mexico, and participants have since reported business wins.

Building momentum and trading up

Women’s economic empowerment has gained traction with governments and key stakeholders around the world. The Buenos Aires Declaration is a testament of this trajectory and, as a result, more WTO members are voluntarily incorporating a trade policy gendered lens in their reports, a 66% increase from 2018. Canada remains a trailblazer in championing inclusive trade on the world stage. Canada’s progressive trade agenda has resulted in a great deal of groundwork in policy making, in enhancing women’s capacity to trade, in creating equal opportunities as well as in providing a level playing field for both men and women. However, gaps still remain in ensuring that women are elevated. The inclusion of trade and gender chapters in FTAs is a positive development. According to trade specialists, this will help to raise awareness of gender equality issues in the trade discourse, and highlight the gaps that still exist. It will encourage broader participation by civil society and the private sector in the implementation of agreements, enhance cooperation between parties to the agreements on issues of immediate relevance to women, and strengthen capacity-building, especially when one party is a developing country. However, these chapters are also light and somewhat aspirational now. Milestones or specific goals are not included, dispute-settlement mechanisms do not apply, and potential impacts of trade liberalization pursued under the agreements on women’s well-being and economic empowerment are not addressed. What can governments do next? Convene public-private consultations to discuss specific actions and goals in parallel with trade agreements to improve women’s participation in trade and their economic impact. Address domestic policies like childcare that can impact women’s ability to expand globally. Encourage CUSMA members to develop a model of cooperation to address trade and gender, e.g., establish a trilateral gender and trade committee, including women entrepreneurs, to share best practices and to define concrete goals. Strengthen efforts to include women and historically underrepresented groups in supply chains through supplier diversity programs. Support capacity building of women by expanding and funding women’s enterprise centres and by sponsoring volunteer-run women’s trade organizations like OWIT. Canada is indeed making waves in its approach to take forward a progressive trade agenda to ensure that more women are engaged in trade and reaping the rewards that come with it. Step-by-step, and in a collective effort, we can ensure that nobody is left behind. Engaging and joining the conversations with OWIT, and other like-minded organizations, means fostering export opportunities for women-owned businesses – an investment in the Canadian economy as a whole. And in an increasingly protectionist world, women represent untapped potential to fuel more trade and be new stakeholders for exporting.

Susan Baka is VP International, and Justine Namara is Director for the Organization of Women in International Trade – Toronto chapter (OWIT-Toronto)

Women Inspire – Celebrating Women in Business and Leadership

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 18:35:37 GMT

In honor and celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) – Toronto Chapter partnered with Casa Foundation for International Development, the World Trade Center Toronto and the Toronto Region Board of Trade to host the Women in Business and Leadership Forum. The Forum was focused on supporting women-owned businesses, while empowering women to run businesses through connecting resources (social, capital, human) to ideas, providing a platform to showcase lessons from Canada’s businesswomen and leaders who inspire and empower other women.

Aligned with the 2020 IWD thematic focus on “Each for Equal: An equal world is an enabled world”, the Forum also served as a knowledge-based learning platform to share successes, best practices, lessons learned, networking, with robust debates on how to cultivate new partners, new relationships and new markets for business growth. Providing welcome remarks, Olutoyin Oyelade, President, Casa Foundation, spoke about her vision for the Women in Business and Leadership Forum, noting, “The Women Inspire Forum is so important when one recalls the gaps in mentorship that women experience and how mentorship and sponsorship can fast-track the journey for other women”.

Farah Mohamed, Senior VP, Strategic Initiatives, Policy and Public Affairs, at the Toronto Region Board of Trade opened the Forum highlighting the work done by the Toronto Region Board of Trade and World Trade Center Toronto in supporting women entrepreneurs. This included their first all-female Trade Accelerator Program cohort helping women-led or owned businesses create a custom export plan. “If all women were given the opportunity to work in Canada, the GDP would go up by 6%,” she noted. Jill Andrew, MPP, Toronto-St. Paul’s, provided keynote remarks emphasizing the unique opportunity that the IWD celebrations provided in acknowledging and celebrating women and their purpose, as well as challenging the status quo to ensure that innovative women are able to lead, amplify and inspire others especially the young women on the rise in business, trade and entrepreneurship.

Hon. Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, delivered keynote remarks highlighting the outstanding efforts made by the Government of Canada in uplifting women, supporting more inclusive trade agreements and investments in affordable child care. Additionally, the roll out of the first Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, a $2Billion investment to double the number of women entrepreneurs by 2025. “According to a report by the McKinsey Institute, Canada can grow our economy by $150 billion by 2026 by simply including women,” she noted, “And yet, women today still face unique barriers to business success, and they remain underrepresented in our economy – with only 16% of Canadian small businesses owned or led by women, and only 11% of women-owned business currently exporting.”

Hon. Ng further highlighted the Government’s work during a fireside chat on supporting women in business with Wendy Cukier, Founder, Diversity Institute and Professor of Entrepreneurship, Ryerson University. She underscored the Government’s mandate to apply Gender-based Analysis Plus in all decisions made which required analyzing the best way to implement policies and programs based on evidence and an intersectional approach to benefit all Canadians.

She also elaborated on the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy’s role in advancing women entrepreneurship in Canada, the set-up of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub to engage women business support organizations across the country (with organizations including OWIT-Toronto); to challenge stereotypes and build awareness of women’s entrepreneurial success; to improve access to financing, talent, networks and expertise; and to promote internationalization and engagement of women in international trade. “Women-owned businesses are still helping to drive the Canadian economy – they represent over $117 billion of economic activity and employ over 1.5 million Canadians.” She noted, adding that, “Investing in women entrepreneurs and fostering export opportunities for women-owned businesses is an investment in the Canadian economy as a whole.”

OWIT-Toronto President Helen Hemmingsen moderated a case studies session on connecting and enabling women leaders in trade and business. Key takeaways from this session included effective use of trade shows to gain access to new markets, and with support from the Trade Commissioner Service, women entrepreneurs are able to exhibit in foreign trade shows gaining new global markets. An example is Anita Agrawal, CEO, Best Bargains Jewellery. Her business was able to access and thrive in the Tokyo and Seoul markets. Providing further insights, Anita also noted the challenges and opportunities, “It’s hard to navigate as a small business, how can I grow more, how can I export more… networks with other women that support women like OWIT-Toronto and WEConnect Canada are invaluable for peer learning on export strategies, branding and leadership.”

The full house celebration of the Women Inspire showcase emceed by Emily Mills, Founder, How She Hustles, had a fantastic line-up. With male and female participants from different industries, business, academia, corporate, public and private sectors engaging in interactive panel sessions, a fire side chat and case studies, as well as engaging in fun business games on Kahoot. It was an empowering event, a testament of what happens when women collaborate and connect. The women trailblazers in entrepreneurship and leadership shared many insightful tips on empowering and advancing women in business including in global trade and in leadership. They also recommended practical steps to help forge a more gender-equal world.

Many thanks to our members for celebrating with us.

Students Celebrate IWD with OWIT

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 18:07:36 GMT

The Women Leadership Expo networking fair hosted by the University of Guelph Humber (UofGH), as part of the 2020 International Women’s Day(IWD) celebrations, marked another successful collaboration with OWIT-Toronto, where students were offered networking and professional development opportunities. Coming into this year's IWD events, celebrating women's achievements and raising awareness against bias felt more meaningful than ever as solidarity touches new peaks every day. By engaging UofGH students, Helen Hemmingsen, Justine Namara, Alina Grigorescu and Ledia Dervishaj of OWIT-Toronto presented our long tradition, global exposure and membership benefits to advance women in the competitive business world.

In addition, students were encouraged to visit OWIT-Toronto’s website and social media, where they can discover the organization’s initiatives and events and access the free online resources As part of OWIT- Toronto’s efforts of supporting the next generation of women professionals and entrepreneurs, discounted annual membership fees are offered to students to facilitate access to specialized education, training, mentorship and networking.

OWIT-Toronto has made a tradition of supporting women throughout their unique challenges and opportunities. From sharing real life experiences to presenting new trade challenges, OWIT’s amazing network of leaders has been amplifying the voices from diverse women entrepreneurs and professionals for over 20 years.

OWIT-Toronto Provides Submission on CUFTA

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 17:54:35 GMT

In February, the Government of Canada launched public consultations to seek the views of Canadians on the possible modernization of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA). The focus of these consultations is to seek feedback on new areas that could be included in a modernized CUFTA, such as chapters on trade in services, trade and gender, investment, and SMEs, as well as potential updates to existing chapters in order to bring the Agreement up-to-date with Canada’s most recent agreements. WIT-Toronto was invited to make a submission, which was completed in March by Maria Marchyshyn, Advisor to the Board, and Susan Baka, VP International, on behalf of OWIT-Toronto.

The CUFTA entered into force for Canada on August 1, 2017, eliminating duties on 99.9% of goods imports from Ukraine, and 86.8% of Canadian goods exports to Ukraine. Bilateral merchandise trade has remained strong since entry into force, totalling $346 million in 2018.

The CUFTA contains a review clause, in which Canada and Ukraine agreed to review the Agreement within two years of entry into force, with a view to adding additional provisions that were not in the original Agreement, including investment and services. In July 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly announced their agreement to expand the CUFTA.

As part of its Trade Diversification Strategy, Canada has advanced an inclusive approach to trade in its recent free trade agreements – through the inclusion of provisions regarding labour, gender, the environment, Indigenous peoples, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The potential modernization of CUFTA presents an opportunity to add, or improve trade provisions within the existing CUFTA to help ensure that a broad range of stakeholders are able to benefit from the Agreement. Previous modernization negotiations such as the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), and the modernized Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) are examples where Canada has successfully sought the addition of inclusive provisions, including those on SMEs and on Trade and Gender.

Canada is committed to pursuing an inclusive approach to trade in recognition that trade policies and agreements need to respond and contribute more meaningfully to broader economic, social and environmental policy priorities. This means seeking trade policies that are responsible, transparent and inclusive.

An Update from OWIT-Toronto on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 20:45:33 GMT

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in a global health crisis posing grave threats to human life, and is having far-reaching consequences of major economic disruptions. In today’s world of globalization and interconnectedness, the spread of the virus has gravely impacted international trade, especially with the regional and global value chain linkages. Efforts to control and quarantine the disease have also resulted in restrictions on travel and public gatherings.

During these unprecedented times, the first priority is clearly to keep people as healthy and safe as possible. In light of this, OWIT-Toronto will be postponing all planned events for the time being. We thank you for your patience and understanding, and encourage you to visit our website and social media platforms (LinkedIn and Twitter) for any updates, news and trade information.

The spread of the coronavirus has left businesses around the world counting costs. To mitigate and manage the economic fallout caused by the global pandemic, the Government of Canada has launched a new webpage – offering Canadian businesses a one-stop-shop to navigate the effects on their businesses and operations. This includes information on employee support, financial implications, business travel and events, and doing business in international markets. More information and resources for Canadian businesses is available at the Trade Commissioner Service website.

Additionally, Export Development Canada has increased their internal capabilities to respond to the concerns of Canadian exporters. More information is available in their FAQs on what Canadian exporters need to know about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and latest press release.

Toronto Mayor John Tory has also announced an economic task force to ‘help protect Toronto’s economic success in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.’

As we navigate these difficult times, we are wishing everyone good health and well-being.

Sincerely,
The OWIT-Toronto Board of Directors

Women's Trade Group Launches Innovative Social Media Campaign

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 21:42:30 GMT

Women’s trade group launches innovative social media campaign
Toronto, 3 March 2020

In commemoration of 2020 International Women’s Day (IWD), the Organization of Women in International Trade – Toronto (OWIT–Toronto) is launching a social media campaign – Women Inspire – to help change perceptions that entrepreneurial success is typically male dominated and “one size fits all”. The campaign will capture the vibrant work and successes of a variety of women entrepreneurs and professionals and will serve to disrupt the status quo, change the narrative and amplify the voices from diverse women entrepreneurs and professionals.

Leading the unique social media campaign is past OWIT–Toronto President and CEO, Best Bargains, Anita Agrawal, who is also featured in the inspirational book, “Fearless. Girls with Dreams, Women with Vision”, being launched as part of IWD.

“As a professor at the School of Business at Centennial College, I often ask my students whom they admire the most and what success means to them,” says Anita. “Many of the students mention wealthy entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Elon Musk. With this social media campaign, I want to change that. I want my students and other young people to know that success can mean many different things and that women entrepreneurs are leading that change. You can have success as an entrepreneur or in various professions. The scale can vary, and that’s okay.”

As part of a premier global trade association across the world, OWIT–Toronto is a 20-year-old non-profit professional organization designed to promote women doing business in international trade. Through networking, educational and professional growth opportunities, the organization helps to build members’ expertise in the international trade arena. Members include women entrepreneurs, service providers, trade practitioners, business women involved in international trade as well as students passionate about international trade.

OWIT–Toronto Co-Founder and Vice President International, Susan Baka, reflects on OWIT’s foundation, noting the need to strengthen women entrepreneurship and engagement in international trade, and to create sustainable businesses.

Likewise, there was a need to step up and tell women inspiring stories of entrepreneurial and leadership successes. Changing the narrative around what entrepreneurial success looks like with an engendered lens meant having a wider mix of diverse voices.

“From its inception, OWIT–Toronto has worked to increase the visibility and recognition of women trailblazers in international trade through our prestigious Annual Gala awards,” she says. “We celebrate the amazing accomplishments of women entrepreneurs and leaders across a variety of industry sectors to inspire and empower other women entrepreneurs, leaders, aspiring leaders and youth.”

The social media campaign also serves to break up the stereotype tales of labelling women in specific sectors such as retail and personal services industries where profit margins are usually much lower. As part of IWD celebrations, the campaign will promote awareness raising, shining a spotlight on the pivotal role that business and markets can play in advancing gender equality.

“Today, women are leaders in technology and innovation and in the specific sectors such as STEM that were originally perceived as male dominated,” says Helen Hemmingsen, OWIT–Toronto President. “Through OWIT’s global network, you are exposed to a wide range of global business contacts, resources for learning and information from our global community. Through sharing these resources, contacts and promoting sector specific trade missions like in STEM, we are encouraging women and inspiring girls to take advantage of technological transformations and innovations changing our world today.”

With the ‘Women Inspire’ social media campaign, OWIT – Toronto joins people around the world who are galvanizing for a future that is gender equal.

Join the online conversation on twitter using the hashtags #IWD2020 #WomenInspire and following @OWITTORONTO. The social media campaign will also be launched at the Women in Business and Leadership Forum held on 5 March 2020 at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, and will be run throughout the year.

To participate in this social media campaign, contact OWIT – Toronto on twitter @OWITTORONTO, or email: info@owit-toronto.ca or on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/owit-to.

OWIT International Award Winners Recipients

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 14:50:14 GMT

2019 OWIT AWARD WINNERS

The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) is pleased to announce the recipients of its annual awards. The awards recognize outstanding contributions to the organization and showcase how the winners leverage their passion and dedication to advance women in international trade and business. Awards will be presented at the Gala Dinner (6pm – 10pm) on Thursday May 28th at the OWIT x GroYourBiz “EXCELerate” Conference in Vancouver, Canada. Registration for conference is open now.

2019 Woman of the Year

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland

Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2013 and was re‐elected in 2015 and 2019.

When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came into power, he appointed her as Canada’s Minister of International Trade, the first woman to ever hold this senior Cabinet position. In this role, she successfully negotiated the signing of the trade agreement with Europe, CETA, in 2017, despite many obstacles, and remains a strong and vocal proponent of free trade. The agreement is touted as a model for contemporary trade agreements. From 2017 to 2019, she served as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

A superstar of Trudeau’s Cabinet, Ms. Freeland was promoted to Deputy Prime Minister in last fall’s election, with responsibility for continuing to oversee the NAFTA renegotiation and Canada’s long‐time and critically important relationship with the US – a strong endorsement of her skills, her deep network and the respect she has garnered. She was Canada’s signatory for the new deal signed with the US and Mexico in December 2019. An esteemed journalist and author, Minister Freeland was born in Peace River, Alberta. She was educated at Harvard University before continuing her studies on a Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford. After beginning her career in journalism as a Ukraine‐based freelance reporter for the Financial Times, The Washington Post, and The Economist, she went on to various roles at the Financial Times. She then served as deputy editor of The Globe and Mail between 1999 and 2001, before returning to the Financial Times as deputy editor and then as the United States managing editor.

In 2010, she joined Canadian‐owned Thomson Reuters. She was a managing director of the company and editor of consumer news when she decided to return home and enter politics in 2013. Minister Freeland has written two books: Sale of the Century: The Inside Story of the Second Russian Revolution (2000); and Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super‐Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else (2012). Plutocrats is an international best‐seller and won the Lionel Gelber Prize and National Business Book Award.

In 2018, Minister Freeland was recognized as Foreign Policy's Diplomat of the Year and was awarded the Eric M. Warburg Award by Atlantik‐Brücke for her achievements in strengthening transatlantic ties. Minister Freeland speaks Russian, Ukrainian, Italian, French, and English, and lives in Toronto with her husband and three children.

Members of the Year: Deanna Clark‐Esposito & Christyna Doege

Deanna is the founder of the Clark‐Esposito Law Firm, P.C. with over 15 years of legal experience in the areas of international trade (imports/exports), transportation, maritime and administrative law in the areas of fashion, vape/tobacco, hemp and others. Prior to starting her own law firm, Deanna headed up the global trade compliance regulatory division of a New York City based 3PL, and worked at a well respected international trade law firm.

Christyna is the Client Engagement Manager for Port Tampa Bay, the Tampa Port Authority, which calls for communicating clearly with current port tenants and users as well as coordinating and hosting successful port events. With a comprehensive knowledge of port operations; the ability to speak to a wide variety of audiences, mastery of the application and billing of port charges and fees; the interpretation of contracts, tariffs, and leases; and the analysis of port statistics.

Chapter of the Year: Tampa Bay

Host of the 19th Annual OWIT International Conference: Year of the Woman, featuring a Tampa Business Day Tour, conference and Awards Dinner. Notable Speakers included Cristina Puig, Dr. Patti Fletcher and Ilya de Marotta. TBOWIT stands on three pillars: networking, education and scholarship. They are ‘enriching Tampa Bay through International Trade’.

You may see more news and subscribe to OWIT International mailing list here.

Trade Accelerator Program: Women-Only Cohort

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 17:33:16 GMT

OWIT-Toronto partnered in the first women’s cohort of the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) put on by the World Trade Centre in Toronto.

Packed agenda… full of great speakers and contacts to help women build their export plans and diversify their markets. We were glad to share expertise, along with other partners like Global Affairs Canada, EDC and OWIT-Ottawa.

From the President’s Desk

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 15:17:23 GMT

2019 was a phenomenal year, OWIT-Toronto marked 20 years of promoting women doing

business internationally.

In 2019, we expanded the depth of our initiatives, starting off with a business women’s trade mission to Monterrey, Mexico, in February 2019, in the advanced manufacturing sector. Mission participants have since been reporting business wins. In the spring, we partnered with the Asia Pacific Foundation on Doing Business in Japan and participated in Export Development Canada (EDC)’s Stakeholder Forum in Ottawa for national business and industry associations.

In the Fall, we hosted our 20 th Anniversary Gala and Export Awards which attracted a record number of nominations. We didn’t envy the judges in their tough task of selecting winners. We also engaged in an innovative one-day “Professional Membership Showcase” at the University of Guelph Humber encouraging young women in international trade to join OWIT-Toronto. We continued to participate in forums advocating for gender inclusion in Free Trade Agreements, including the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) event in Ottawa. We also joined our colleagues across in Tampa, to celebrate the “Year of the Woman”, an OWIT International event.

We ended our extraordinary year marking a 20-year operational period with our 20th Annual General Meeting and a Holiday Reception hosted by Bennett Jones, where three outstanding women entrepreneurs gave us tips on export success including insights on successfully building their businesses, accessing and expanding into global markets.

Our engagement and involvement in the different initiatives was made possible with many thanks to our partners and sponsors including the Government of Ontario and OWIT Monterrey, Bennett Jones, Jewels4Ever, EDC, Global Affairs Canada and the Diversity Institute/Ryerson University.

In 2020, a five-year milestone will be reached towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 2020 is therefore a pivotal year to continue to shine a light on women entrepreneurship, women economic empowerment and an inclusive role of women in trade agreements to advance women doing business globally.

We look forward to working with our partners and sponsors on events and initiatives that bring these themes to fruition. Thank you to everyone for a fantastic year!

Helen Hemmingsen

President

OWIT-Toronto

OWIT Canadian Trade Mission to Monterrey, Mexico—My Key Takeaways By Jessica B. Horwitz, Associate, Bennett Jones

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 14:45:24 GMT

In February 2019, I was privileged to have the opportunity to participate in a Canadian trade mission to Monterrey, Mexico with the Organization of Women in International Trade Toronto chapter. The mission was facilitated by the Canadian Trade Commissioners’ Service in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Labour of the State of Nuevo León, EGADE Business School Technológico de Monterrey, and numerous other organizations. This mission was the first initiative out of an MOU signed by the OWIT-Toronto and OWIT-Monterrey chapters in March, 2017 in the presence of the Canadian Minister of International Trade and the Consul General of Canada in Monterrey.

The purpose of the mission was to encourage female business owners, professionals, executives and service providers to export and expand globally, and to showcase the contribution of women in international trade and in historically male-dominated industry sectors, in both Mexico and Canada. The 10 delegates participated in conferences and meetings with local industry clusters, government and educational organizations, tours of various research and development facilities, and a visit to the ExpoManufactura trade show. We also had individual business-to-business meetings with potential customers, suppliers and business partners in the Monterrey area of interest to our respective

organizations. Here are some of my key takeaways from the mission:

Women are a historically untapped resource in manufacturing and industrial sectors.

According to data from the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), women currently represent only between 4.4%-15.7% of jobs in industrial, electrical and construction trades, maintenance, equipment operations, transportation and heavy equipment, and machine operation. Technology and automation have lowered physical barriers to participation, making these industrial roles more accessible for women. Our expanding involvement is key to growth in these areas, in light of growing labour shortages in high skill positions. The challenge is encouraging increased participation by women, through skills training and mentorship as well as promoting these roles and STEM subjects to be seen as desirable career paths for young girls. CME's We Can Do It! Campaign is a step along this road.

Mexico, and Monterrey and the State of Nuevo León in particular, is a high value market for Canadian manufacturing businesses to consider expanding into.

Nuevo León is Mexico’s manufacturing hub, its top destination for foreign direct investment and has the highest GDP per capita. Situated in the north of the country and connected with major North American rail and highway networks, the region has developed dramatically since the advent of the original NAFTA. Its business culture is similar from that of Canada and the United States and the population is highly educated and technically skilled relative to other regions. There are also surprisingly widespread

levels of English spoken by the workforce, and there are many organizations, both private and public, set up to help foreign investors establish operations in the region. More information about the region is available on the Nuevo León Ministry of the Economy's website.

Trade diversification is more important than ever.

The current uncertain trade climate has sent a clear message that diversification is essential, particularly for businesses with international supply chains or customer base. Mexico has free trade agreements with Canada two times over: under the NAFTA (and its soon-to-be successor USMCA / CUSMA / T-MEC) and, as of December 30, 2018, the CPTPP. The CPTPP in particular opens up opportunities for cross-integration of Canada-Mexico supply chains with partners in Asia. But free trade agreements are only valuable for economies to the extent that businesses use them. The skilled advisors at Bennett Jones can help Canadian importers and exporters explore and leverage the opportunities under these agreements, and to set up the necessary commercial and tax structures to make expanding internationally a smooth and profitable experience.

Jessica B. Horwitz is an Associate at Bennett Jones.

OWIT-Toronto AGM and Holiday Reception: Year-End Reflections

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 15:41:01 GMT

OWIT-Toronto celebrated the end of 2019 in December with a festive networking and holiday reception hosted by Bennett Jones. This inspiring event provided the platform for OWIT-Toronto members, key stakeholders and decision makers in international trade to network and celebrate all things trade. Three successful women exporters had podium time to shine a light on their journey in building their businesses, accessing and expanding into global markets. The session was moderated by OWIT-Toronto Board Member, Aylin Lusi.

Myra Sable, President of Sable and Rosenfield and recipient of OWIT-Toronto’s Woman Exporter of the Year award (2019), kicked off the discussion, explaining how her 50-year food business was founded in her kitchen while she worked as a part-time restaurant reviewer in Toronto. She highlighted her incredible journey from St. Lawrence Market to getting a business plan, and to her first scoping mission to Europe, in Paris and Brussels, where she collected various samples of beautifully packaged and designed gourmet products for inspiration. Initially, starting with a home recipe for Russian Mustard, which sold out in six weeks, she meticulously grew the product line into what it is today, specializing in gourmet appetizers and condiments, sauces and cocktail garnishes.

Kathy Smith, VP Operations of Sable and Rosenfield, complemented Myra’s story and elaborated on the niche markets that they had targeted which required making different unique gourmet product lines, for instance, no alcohol ingredients for the Dubai market. She also highlighted some of the challenges faced along their entrepreneurial journey including supplier delays, buyer challenges and logistical issues. On addressing challenges like language barriers, Myra recalled how she turned this into an opportunity to learn a new language - French - to be able to fully expand her business in France and Brussels. Giving examples of their San Francisco and New York food show experiences, she also noted the importance of trade shows which helped to identify what retailers were seeking. If the packaging was appealing to the buyers, they would buy the products on site and order more. She also said that the ‘Made in Canada’ label was a key marketing tool as it stood for authenticity.

Barb Wilmer, Director of Sales for Racer Machinery International, shared glimpses of her experiences in Cuba as a young girl, through to moving to Canada as an immigrant at an early age, studying and working to finally achieving top salesperson award in the steel industry in Canada. Her snippets of wisdom in becoming a successful steel industry entrepreneur included staying up to date with the latest technology, keeping in communication loops, networking and having strong perseverance. She noted the turbulent times that have rocked the steel industry with the initiation of the US steel and aluminum tariffs that caused an increase in the cost of raw materials and big reservations on spending, greatly impacting the industry. She welcomed the news of the conclusion of the re-negotiated NAFTA.

Barb also recommended participating in trade missions. She joined OWIT-Toronto’s trade mission in February 2019 to Monterrey, Mexico which provided her with a variety of networking opportunities and connections to different businesses. She subsequently took an independent follow-up business trip to Monterrey in September 2019 to continue the business engagements. Her ability to communicate fluently in Spanish is key in facilitating doing business in Mexico.

The evening included brief presentations by OWIT-Toronto partners including EntrepreneursPoint’s Olutoyin Oyelade who announced that their women entrepreneurship incubator development program is available to OWIT-Toronto members at a 10% discount. World Trade Center Trade Accelerator Program’s Frances Guo invited members who meet the criteria to a Women-specific cohort in January 2020. Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC)’s Neha Bahl announced plans to provide a customized free one-day advisory event for OWIT-Toronto members looking to build and scale new businesses and network with TBDC’s international clients that are part of the Start-up Visa program, TBDC’s mentors, national and international trade partners.

To crown off the evening, OWIT-Toronto President Helen Hemmingsen recognized Susan Baka, one of OWIT-Toronto’s founders. As a Board Member, a true OWIT-Toronto and OWIT-International champion, Susan has been instrumental in pioneering women in international trade both in Canada and abroad for over 20 years.

It was an evening of festive celebrations, celebrating the trailblazing women in international trade, their great achievements, and the unique platform that brings all these women at the table to support each other and share many lessons learned along the way. To spice it up further, Sable and Rosenfeld provided a token memento for everyone to taste and remember the occasion. A wide selection of beautiful jars of gourmet products from cocktail garnishes, appetizers, condiments and sauces, many of which were all-natural, Non-GMO certified, gluten free and Kosher, were provided to the participants to take home to appreciate a truly made in Canada experience.

The evening event was preceded by OWIT-Toronto 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) marking the end of the year and a 20-year operational period. The 2020 OWIT-Toronto Board was reconstituted, with Board directors reelected and new directors coming on board forming a quorum.

EDC President Provides Insights on Women and International Trade

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 15:20:07 GMT

During this fall’s Toronto Global Forum, OWIT sat down with Mairead Lavery, President and CEO of Export Development Canada (EDC). During a refreshing and lively exchange, she shared her perspectives on women in trade issues and what EDC is both doing and planning for women exporters in 2020, along with her perceptions of the role of an organization like OWIT. Here are some highlights from the interview:

Q: What are some of the things EDC is doing to support women in exporting?

A: We’ve launched quite a few initiatives. For example, we created the role of Corporate Lead, Women in Trade. Jennifer Cooke is the first to hold this position, and her team ensures that the whole organization is focused on what works for women entrepreneurs, how we can encourage women to think more about exporting and how we can support their journey more. We wanted to very clearly understand their needs, to guide us on how we engage with them - whether through our website, which we adjusted to make sure it is welcoming to women entrepreneurs, more focused on their needs, clearer in terms of the support that they could access, and whether it is aligning with the collection of metrics in our business. Up to that point, we never asked our customers if they are a woman-owned

business, so understanding that also helps us do programming. Creating that baseline of data is how we got started and now we’re into the next phase – what I would call phase two of EDC’s program.

Q: What are the new initiatives geared to women that EDC is planning for 2020?

A: There are a number of things planned. An increased level of support internally tops the list so that Jennifer can do more. We will continue efforts that are working very well, including relationships with organizations like OWIT that give us the insights and access to women entrepreneurs. We’re also looking into other things that we could do differently, and contributing to more global initiatives as a leverage point to actually take women entrepreneurs international. We’ve had incredible success so far. In 2019, we announced our $50 million Women in Trade Investments Program. I sit on the committee overseeing

that fund, and the pool of customers is incredibly strong. We’re probably looking at increasing the amount of the fund because it turns out $50 million isn’t enough. Similarly, following the 2018 federal budget, we announced a goal to facilitate $250 million in trade for women-owned and -led businesses and very quickly surpassed that goal. It’s good news, but it doesn’t mean we’ve stopped. Now we need to think about adjusting and setting a new dollar volume goal for supporting women entrepreneurs’ exports and international market growth.

Q: What role is EDC playing in the government’s aggressive trade diversification strategy?

A: The majority (75%) of Canadian exports are to the US and 70% of Canadian companies export first to the US. But there are many more markets – some covered by free trade agreements – where we can encourage companies to go as well. And e-commerce is growing so rapidly that traditional thinking is quickly evolving, and people today don’t really recognize themselves in the word “exporting.” They just see themselves as doing business with customers further away than normal and they’re leveraging a tool like a logistics platform that allows them to ship their goods in small quantities. If they see

themselves as exporters, which they are, there’s a lot of room for them to grow their business and international presence. The world of exporting is changing, and all our programs are changing along with it, to try to help – whether to support diversification, progressive trade or inclusive trade.

Q: Will EDC have an increased presence internationally?

A: At the moment, we have 22 offices internationally with a plan to increase that. You’ll see an increased presence in the US because we want to encourage Canadian companies exporting there to get into supply chains that will take them further afield in the world. We continue to advance aggressively in Asia because we see the growth of the middle class and certain Canadian company strengths and capabilities that are an absolute match to the customer base in Asia. We will also go where our customers would like us to be – our London, England office is an example of that. The UK is a very important trading partner for Canada and it’s only in the last three years that we opened an office there since customers wanted us to be on the ground. In other cases, like Singapore, we establish offices in places where we believe there is good potential for Canadian companies, in order to encourage them to do business there and support them.

Q: How much presence do you have in Europe?

A: We are in London, Dusseldorf and Istanbul. Particularly because of CETA, the region is ripe for expansion so we’re evaluating whether to boost our presence. We work proactively with the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) which has such a wide presence in the world. Canada's Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Mary Ng and I have a new analogy. Minister Ng says there is no wrong door to government, and we came up with this analogy of a shopping mall. There is no wrong door into the mall because you’ll find the shop that you need and everybody is there to provide that service. That’s what the government and EDC would like to see in terms of the services that all of us in the Canadian trade ecosystem can provide to entrepreneurs. You can find us through TCS, perhaps in Paris, but you will still get to EDC in that mall because TCS will be able to reach out to us even if you don’t know about us. We’re very excited that TCS has that ability and that we can support that.

Q: Entrepreneurs often say they would like a one-stop shop to access trade support and resources. Is that feasible?

A: I think that technology is helping a great deal. However, I don’t think it’s a one-stop shop that people want or need; it’s a personalized experience because each business and its circumstances are different. I do hope that we can get them faster access through technology, but it has to be services based on their personal needs. There’s no point going into the one-stop shop if you don’t really know what you need. What we want to provide is a personalized service that recognizes your circumstance and addresses your needs because, at the end of the day, it’s about time and actually accelerating an entrepreneur’s

journey, not necessarily making everybody experts on all the services we provide.

Q: Where are the greatest opportunities for Canadian women to export?

A: It depends on their sector, where they are based geographically in Canada, their capabilities and their product. I always say: what does the customer need? It applies to entrepreneurs…where is the need for your product, or where can you create the need for your product? That’s the market to target – the one that either understands your product, doesn’t have your product, or where you can offer a superior product. Then you have to factor in other criteria, like your own capability and the life cycle of your company. The US is more attractive as a launching pad compared to Asia, where you need to be on the ground and present to be successful, which is often harder for women. I always encourage people to meet with their sector associations and have these dialogues as well.

Q: How do we increase trade for women when most of them are service providers?

A: The Canadian economy is shifting more towards service and, I think you’ll see in general, more support for service-based companies from government. Associations like OWIT, with your variety of members, can connect internationally with other bodies that have different varieties of members and make introductions for your members. Having said that, I don’t believe there is ever one network that solves all your challenges. We have to encourage women to be part of various networks where they can learn and meet others who can help. When you’re in business, you look for every advantage you can. Tailored and specific networks like OWIT are part of that advantage. Another example is trying to get into the supply chains of large organizations that are looking to diversify their supplier base. We do have to be realistic about what trade commissioners can do. Some women may have niche products or services that every trade commissioner cannot possibly be an expert in, but still, I think what they can do extremely well is introduce women to different markets and their cultures. It makes a difference when you have the support of the Government of Canada behind you when you are in foreign markets. They are a safety net and can serve as a fundamental check and balance to help you by asking questions about your export plan and why you want to enter a particular market.

Q: What role can organizations like OWIT play to combat growing protectionist sentiments in the world?

A: Organizations like OWIT that provide trade education and serve as a trusted source of very unbiased information transcend what we might read in tweets. Bringing together business leaders and letting them share trade successes and experiences that go beyond the superficial media headlines is so important. Even if you do the right things for your business, over time you can always get a shock and a country can close its doors or impose tariffs for example, but, in general, trade continues on. I think OWIT can help educate and build the confidence and be that stable and familiar face through all these

spikes. I also think that, as a grouping, you have a collective voice, and it’s getting that voice to policy makers or organizations like EDC that are thinking about what products or services to put on the market. You can actually help guide policy and product-building for your membership through your insights.

Q: Do you think gender chapters in free trade agreements are an effective way to address trade policy to make trade more inclusive for women? These chapters sound a bit aspirational now. What needs to happen next?

A: I will speak as a practical business person on how to get things done, and generally things done by measurement. You measure what matters. If it truly matters, then measurements are put in place to determine if success is achieved. That’s what it takes in business and I don’t think this would be any different. You say that the dialogue between OWIT and government has been greater in the last few years than the previous 20. I see that as a positive step and would encourage you to continue to reach out with your recommendations to the policy people who are negotiating agreements.

Women’s Roundtable Provides Insights into French Market

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 15:31:32 GMT

OWIT-Toronto participated in a lively roundtable discussion organized by Global Affairs Canada with Ambassador Isabelle Hudon, the first female Canadian Ambassador to France. She outlined opportunities for Canadian exporters in the French market with a population of 67 million and noted that “love capital for Canadian businesses is huge in France”, emphasizing there is a growing appetite to learn more about Ontario.

Other topics discussed included Canada’s free trade agreement with the EU, CETA, trade missions for women (one upcoming to Paris and Brussels) and CanExport funding, with attendees sharing their experiences and perspectives.

Among the Ambassador’s tips for ensuring success: Invest time to get to know potential partners and understand the culture Access the Trade Commissioner Service for market knowledge and to help introduce you to partners Be very confident in your dealings but don’t focus on your gender.

For more information on how TCS can help, connect with Viktoria Palfi at Viktoria.Palfi@international.gc.ca, the Business Women in International Trade contact point in Toronto.

Supporting Next Generation of Young Female Entrepreneurs

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 15:02:49 GMT

OWIT-Toronto participated in an innovative one-day ‘Professional Membership Showcase’ event hosted by the University of Guelph Humber offering students access to networking and professional development opportunities through joining an association. The career building and placement services workshop held in November offered information and guidance to students on career plans and professional goals from over 10 specialized associations, including OWIT-Toronto alongside others like the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and Canadian Society of Association Executives.

During the interactions with the students, OWIT-Toronto members highlighted the Organization’s global brand recognition and mission to advance women in international trade and its membership benefits including education and training, business development, networking and mentorship. The students were also invited to take advantage of OWIT-Toronto’s free online resources on business planning, evaluation, managing risks, brand management and protection from fraud, all available on OWIT-Toronto’s website.

Students in the business and media fields were particularly encouraged to apply for volunteer opportunities to build experience and learn from entrepreneurial experts through available networking opportunities, on-the-job skills and mentorship. Student membership fees are offered at an annual discounted rate of $50 to support the next generation of young female entrepreneurs.

Melissa Patrizi, Career Services Coordinator, Business and Media Studies at the University of Guelph Humber, highlighted her plans to make the professional membership showcase an annual event to encourage and motivate students to aim higher for a variety of options in their career path. She noted, “Professional Development is an ongoing investment in yourself. Our hope for this event is to showcase to students that networking and learning can and should happen outside of the classroom. Professional Associations provide the resources for connecting to other like-minded individuals and industry professionals, and we hope students will see professional membership as a viable opportunity to learn more about their chosen field and advance their career prospects through networking”.

Further highlighting the role of memberships in professional associations, and in particular OWIT, Helen Hemmingsen, President of OWIT-Toronto, compared the experience with passing on the baton, as student memberships in associations like OWIT-Toronto could bring on rewarding career opportunities. She noted: "A global association, OWIT’s mission is to foster international trade and the advancement of women in business. We have a supportive community network of women entrepreneurs, women leaders and service providers who are equipped and happy to mentor and guide female students along their professional and entrepreneurial path, and we offer them lifelong learning lessons through networking and experience sharing."

Taking these discussions to the next level and further motivating future female entrepreneurs, the University of Guelph Humber and OWIT-Toronto have plans to collaborate further on upcoming key occasions like the 2020 International Women’s Day. This collaboration serves to ensure that there is a wider reach for female students to be engaged in entrepreneurship and leadership opportunities. The proposed outreach plans will be accompanied by a trade show exhibiting professional female associations and women-led enterprises.

With an ever-increasing population of students who will require the necessary skillset and opportunities needed to reach their potential, OWIT-Toronto remains empowered to help female students through networking, professional development, training and mentorship in order to become the next entrepreneurial drivers supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.

CETA Summit Advances Inclusive, Sustainable and Equitable Trade Goals

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 14:45:07 GMT

During the November Civil Society Summit on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in Ottawa, detailed discussions along the key themes of Trade and Sustainable Development, Trade and Labour, and Trade and Environment were deliberated. At the core of the discussions, stakeholders and participants from both Canada and the EU Civil Society pushed forward a pro trade agenda incorporating inclusive, sustainable and equitable norms in the CETA.

The CETA landmark agreement was praised for the unique opportunity it presented to show the world how trade agreements could incorporate aspects of non-traditional trade negotiations like on labour and other social reform clauses. At the onset, it was acknowledged that, as like-minded countries with similar standards, values and commonalities, discussions would be centered on enhancing bilateral cooperation and sharing experiences of both parties, but the discussions also dwelled into how to uphold and enforce similar standards in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Third Parties.

Canada and the EU’s Domestic Advisory Groups (DAG) provided presentations along the thematic areas. Under the Trade and Sustainable Development theme, it was reported that there was no gender chapter in CETA, but gender was provided for in the fundamental principle of non-discrimination. This provision specified the basis for a joint recommendation and Action Plan to support women entrepreneurs in their capacity to trade. The DAG presentations acknowledged work on gender and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), emphasizing the role that SMEs play in CETA’s implementation. They also highlighted the findings of the International Trade Centre (ITC) study which showed that SMEs did not face trade barriers but only trade challenges including access to information, access to networks and the liability as a small company to engage in international trade.

The progress made on trade and gender was detailed including the various outreach and advocacy workshops and missions involving policy makers and women entrepreneurs, the regular communications between Canada and the EU teams, and the good stakeholder engagement from Civil Society. Experience sharing workshops have been undertaken with lots of lessons and best practices shared on policy and women’s participation in trade, as well as gender disaggregated data and the FTA’s assessment impact. More importantly, through these sessions, it was further confirmed that Canada and the EU share the same values on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. Going forward, gender was prioritized by both governments as an area to focus on, as a crosscutting issue within the different thematic areas like labour and environment. Discussions will also be focused on how to mutually take forward gender equality, empowering women and financing women to grow their businesses while taking advantage of CETA.

The Summit concluded on a positive note, calling for the proper implementation of CETA in upholding and promoting the values shared by the EU and Canada, while highlighting the importance of trade as a key driver to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The unprecedented success with CETA compared to other FTAs and the increased trade between the EU and Canada were also acknowledged. It was agreed to have ongoing dialogue about mainstreaming gender as a crosscutting issue. This presented drive and momentum to work collaboratively, and a great opportunity to showcase the work and progress made, as well as to share the knowledge with other countries.

OWIT-Toronto Partners with EntrepreneursPoint

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 14:22:55 GMT

OWIT-Toronto is partnering with the recently launched EntrepreneursPoint to advance a community of innovative women entrepreneurs. OWIT-Toronto women-led businesses, start-ups and those looking to grow will receive a 10% discount on entrepreneurial working spaces. The business incubator program offered by EntrepreneursPoint provides the necessary resources to take businesses from the planning stages to reality, with the aim to assist women entrepreneurs to grow existing businesses, and enable them to level up and advance to a state where they can pursue opportunities in domestic, regional and global markets.

EntrepreneursPoint in downtown Toronto is an ideal place to run a business in the vibrant city. Specially planned to support women entrepreneur start-ups, especially those with family obligations, the workplace hosts facilities and resources such as a child play area. This helps women juggling with work and child care to better manage their work-life balance. The facilities are also designed to spark creativity, create networks while honing your craft and innovation, providing a variety of products including private offices, meeting rooms, business lounge, hot desk, virtual offices, networking events, pitch contest acting as a sounding board for business ideas, Entrepreneur Exchange forum, mentorship advisory and the EntrepreneursPoint Academy.

Along with the 10% discount on the incubator development program, OWIT-Toronto members receive an additional 20% discount on event space booking and free access to the EntrepreneursPoint Academy classes. The Academy focuses on empowering start-ups, entrepreneurs and professionals to manage financing, marketing, branding, credit, risk and tax, as well as building relationships with potential partners, in particular banking institutions.

Women entrepreneurs face challenges including limited access to financing and less access to networks, mentors and expertise. Incubator development programs like EntrepreneursPoint address these issues and provide integrated business support programs that also focus on personal development and facilitate interactions between entrepreneurs to leverage peer learning. This helps to ensure a higher success rate for women entrepreneurs launching their businesses who receivesupport from the early start-up stage, and for those looking to accelerate and scale their businesses.

EntrepreneursPoint is one of the strategic investments undertaken by InVcap Corporation, a large real estate firm with investments in both Africa and Canada. Founding partner Olutoyin Oyelade is enthusiastic about EntrepreneursPoint’s potential and passionate about finding solutions on how start- ups in diverse communities can grow and how businesses can be connected. She referenced the successful business networks facilitated by Casa Foundation’s Friends of Africa Summit, also under the InVcap Corporation umbrella, which has linked different companies across North America and Africa, resulting in many business and investment enterprises.

She further elaborated on the role of EntrepreneursPoint to bring people around the table to discuss constraints and corrective measures in advancing businesses. “In the journey of life there are those who wish things could happen, those who watch things happen, and those who make things happen. The journey of entrepreneurship is for those who make things happen. Entrepreneurspoint Incubator makes that journey happen,” she noted.

Evaluation evidence by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shows that business incubator and accelerator programs can help stimulate growth intentions among women entrepreneurs, and help more women entrepreneurs achieve their business’ growth potential. OECD further notes that these dedicated programs have a greater impact than general programs because of greater take-up among women, provision of more tailored support, and more suitable networking opportunities are offered. This evidence was reaffirmed in an OECD Policy report which reflects a proven track record of business incubators and business accelerators to be effective supports for new and growing businesses. The report further notes that businesses that receive support in incubators tend to have higher survival rates, create more jobs, and generate more revenue. These businesses are also far more successful at raising investment capital and more likely to generate more sales.

Helen Hemmingsen, President of OWIT-Toronto Chapter, took note of the fact that women-owned businesses are making tremendous strides in sectors as diverse as health, creative industries, digital technology, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and clean energy. She emphasized the need to support high potential female entrepreneurs in these sectors. “Incubators help start-ups save on operating costs, with the sole purpose of helping entrepreneurs grow their business. OWIT-Toronto is very pleased to partner with EntrepreneursPoint to help women build skills and knowledge they need to create and grow their businesses, while creating more opportunities for women to be involved in the entrepreneurship sector, level up and pursue domestic, regional and global trade.”

Entrepreneurship is moving to the forefront of the global development agenda. By investing in dedicated, innovative entrepreneurs through business incubator programs, the global community can work towards the Sustainable Development Goals embracing more sustainable inclusive social enterprises. OWIT-Toronto is partnering with EntrepreneursPoint to support women entrepreneurs to step up and take their businesses to the next level and to further encourage the efforts of women entrepreneurs to create jobs, trade global and to help reach the global goals.

Participate in Canada-EU CETA Civil Society Forum

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 13:10:04 GMT

Save the date and have your say - Tuesday, November 12, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Ottawa or by livestream web-link.

Join our partner Global Affairs Canada in an interactive dynamic event on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The event jointly facilitated by the Government of Canada and the European Union will be held at Victoria Hall, 111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 1J1 for in-person attendees. The Forum is also accessible virtually via livestreaming in both English and French. Registration forms are available upon request through email at

CSFregistration-inscriptionFSC@international.gc.ca

before November 1, 2019. Technical details for virtual participants will be provided after event registration.

The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a landmark

agreement that upholds and promotes the values shared by the EU and Canada. Under CETA Article 22.5, Canada and the EU are to facilitate a joint annual Civil Society Forum. The first forum on Trade and Sustainable Development under the CETA was held in September 2018 in Brussels, Belgium.

This second edition of the Forum as mandated by the EU-Canada CETA will provide an

opportunity for Canadians from different businesses and institutions to engage together with officials from the Government of Canada, the European Commission and members of the EU civil society on implementation of the CETA. This will be focused on Trade and Sustainable Development, Trade and Labour, and Trade and Environment.

Participants will also discuss ways the CETA can further help promote trade flows and practices that contribute to enhancing decent work and environmental protection. This will be instrumental in shaping the positions and decisions of CETA’s Trade and Sustainable

Committee.

OWIT Members are strongly encouraged to participate and engage in the discussions,

and provide feedback on the effective implementation of the CETA chapters on Trade and

Sustainable Development (including the implementation on CETA’s Trade and Gender

recommendation), Trade and Labour, and Trade and Environment.

Click here for more information and registration details.

Summit Brings Role of Women Businesses Centerstage

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 13:01:22 GMT

OWIT-Toronto participated in The Friends of Africa Economic Development Summit, hosted over a two-day event in Toronto in October, which brought together high-level public and private sector representatives from African countries including Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco and Nigeria with their Canadian counterparts. The interactive dialogue was focused on facilitating collaboration and delving into strategic opportunities to fast-track innovative growth in entrepreneurship development across diverse sectors.

The Summit organized by Casa Foundation Canada was officially opened by the Foundation’s President, Olutoyin Oyelade, who emphasized the objective of providing entrepreneurs, companies, and leaders a networking platform to expand businesses that contribute to economic development. She noted the need to have a solid foundation for new entrepreneurs to enable them to build a more sustainable private sector and to ensure inclusive sustainable growth of businesses.

Representing OWIT Toronto and moderating a panel discussion on developing an inclusive economy, VP Stephanie Dei and current National Coordinator for the WE EMPOWER Programme of the EU, UN Women and ILO, highlighted the important role of strengthening women leadership and businesses. This experience sharing session provided concrete examples of what the Canadian and Moroccan government and private sector were doing in support of advancing women’s businesses.

Prof. Wendy Cukier, Founder Diversity Institute, Ryerson University, one of OWIT-Toronto’s partners, noted in comparison that African women entrepreneurs were stronger in numbers than in Canada. She described the Canadian Government’s policy and legal approach to women’s economic empowerment through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy as a way to catch up, increase and double the number of women entrepreneurs by 2025. “The Government of Canada has committed $2 billion to invest in women’s economic and social development. This investment reflects a strong commitment to doubling the number of women entrepreneurs in the country,” she noted.

She highlighted the government’s strong commitment to help women to grow their businesses through the creation of a Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. The Hub was set up to engage women business support organizations across the country (including OWIT); to challenge stereotypes and build awareness of women’s entrepreneurial success; to improve access to financing, talent, networks and expertise; and to promote internationalization and engagement of women in international trade. She

emphasized the role of institutions like the Diversity Institute and the Knowledge Hub in supporting women to export through their partnership with OWIT Toronto, as well as the role of Canadian trade consulates around the world which facilitate and enable women to set their sights higher in trading globally.

Laura Reinholz, Director of BMO for Women at BMO Bank of Montreal, detailed the BMO for Women program which provides a platform to provide education, financing, training, networking, and dedicated online tools and resources for women entrepreneurs. She also highlighted the Bank’s involvement in the We Empower challenge.

Ambassador Souriya Otmani of the Kingdom of Morocco in Canada shared Morocco’s strong commitment in supporting women’s economic empowerment. She stated how this had helped boost productivity, increase economic diversification, incomes and additional positive development outcomes. She provided examples of successful projects in both the public and private sector that had tremendously improved women entrepreneurs’ livelihoods, their families and communities.

The underlying theme at the interactive session was women’s economic empowerment is good for business and for the economy. This has been further underscored by a UNDP study on the Sustainable Development Goals that indicates that investing in programmes that improve income generating activities for women can return $7 for every dollar spent.

Summing up the actionable points in the session, Prof. Cukier emphasized the need to outline and document the challenges and obstacles to women’s participation in business; the key role of undertaking research to have facts, backup data and statistics in order to address these challenges; the necessity to have accountability as to what has been done and its impact; and finally the increasing need to have diversity in women representation especially at Board levels. This would ensure a more inclusive approach in bringing women businesses centerstage.

More information about the Ninth Edition Friends of Africa Economic Development Summit can be found here.

Women Traders and Trade Experts from Around the World to Gather in Tampa

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 13:48:29 GMT

Tampa, FL — Businesswomen from more than 20 chapters worldwide will gather in Tampa, Florida on October 23-25, 2019, at the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) 19th International Conference, to explore issues and experiences in today’s tumultuous international trade arena.

Themed “The Year of the Woman”, the event includes tours and a conference boasting an array of international speakers, special events, a port harbor cruise, annual awards dinner and networking opportunities, followed by an annual Board Meeting open to all OWIT members (and those considering joining OWIT). “We have a lot to offer here in Tampa,” says Christyna Doege, President of OWIT-Tampa Bay (TBOWIT). “I’m thrilled to welcome participants from far and wide to experience the city and to learn from top-notch experts in their field.”

Program Activities include:

Tampa Business Tour (October 23) – Bringing participants to some of the most innovative and unique highlights in Tampa’s downtown area to see firsthand how the city went from “Cigar City” to an urban center for international trade.

Conference Day (October 24) – The conference will include 2 keynote speakers, 5 panels, and 2 powerful “Power 10” talks.

Port Tampa Bay Tour (October 24) – After the conference, get a waterside view of the port’s activity on this hour-long harbor tour. See first-hand how cargo moves around the world.

TBOWIT Annual Awards Dinner (October 24) – Networking, Education, and Scholarship. This is a fun-filled evening with keynote speaker, Alex Sink, former Florida CFO, and TBOWIT International Person of the Year awardee, Maryann Ferenc, CEO, Mise En Place. TBOWIT will also award university scholarships and hear from past winners.

Conference Day highlights include (October 24):

Reading the Tea Leaves: Trade in 2020 – Touching on hot topics such as USMCA and the expansion of the digital economy to escalating trade tensions with China, and the uncertainty of Brexit, trade policy experts will give their insights on what’s to come in the trade space in 2020. Panelists include Yuri Unno, Director, International Trade Policy, Toyota, and Susan Harper, Consul General, Canadian Consulate.

A Canal, a Career, a Challenge – Ilya Espino de Marotta, Vice President of Transit Business with the Panama Canal Authority, will present this eye-opening and inspirational keynote. It is not every day that you’ll hear from the chief engineer of the Panama Canal expansion.

In Praise of OWIT Women of the Year: Retrospectives and Perspectives - A dynamic and diverse panel of past OWIT International Women of the Year Award winners from the US, Canada and Mexico share their OWIT journeys and insights on the global trade scene and where women are going from here. Find out what OWIT did for them….and what they’re doing now.

Business Beyond Borders: Demystifying Trade with Europe and Latin America – Moderator Christina Puig, News Anchor for NBC Telemundo, will ask panelists about the hottest business sectors, how to take advantage of existing government and in-country resources, and legal protections to ensure companies thrive abroad.

Make Disruption Your Wonder Woman Superpower - Women who disrupt the status quo are a special breed of leaders. Author Dr. Patti Fletcher will share what sets them apart based on her studies and work with some of the most successful female disrupters in the world.

Born Leaders: Genes, Luck or Hard Work? - Three successful trailblazers discuss their career paths and all they’ve encountered along the way to reveal what it takes to achieve success as women in male-dominated industries.

The African Trade Revolution – Moderated by OWIT Nairobi’s Past President Frida Owinga, the panel will present opportunities that exist across the continent and an overview of doing business with Africa.

“We’ve prepared a robust program featuring an amazing line-up of dynamic and informative speakers,” explains Jennifer Diaz, President, OWIT International. “Delegates will have the opportunity to connect with leaders from around the world, learn about top international trade issues, and leave with valuable tools to utilize in their own workplace. Our OWIT Tampa Bay chapter is to be commended.”

For more information and registration details, visit here.

About OWIT:

The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) is a non-profit professional organization comprised of a network of 2500 international trade professionals in local chapters located in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Its mission, “United around the globe to foster international trade and the advancement of women in business,” provides members with a collective forum to enhance personal and professional development, exchange business contacts, and drive global policy initiatives.

For more information, visit here.

For more information, please contact:

Christyna Doege

President, OWIT-Tampa Bay (TBOWIT)

cdoege@tampaport.com

OWIT Participates in CETA Roundtable

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 13:48:22 GMT

The European Commissioner for Trade, Ms. Cecilia Malmström, the WE EMPOWER programme of the European Union, UN Women, and the International Labour Organization co-hosted the roundtable discussion Women and Trade in the Context of CETA in Montreal in July. The event was attended by organizations that support women’s economic empowerment (including OWIT-Toronto, represented by VP Stephanie Dei, current National Coordinator for the WE EMPOWER Programme of the EU, UN Women and ILO), women entrepreneurs actively engaged in exports to the European Union, and several representatives from the public sector committed to advancing women’s participation in international trade.

The discussion focused on the opportunities and challenges to increasing women’s participation in trade between Canada and the European Union in the context of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Attendees examined three leading gender-based barriers to trade: limited access to capital and investors, limited access to market information and networks, and cultural biases and gender-based discrimination.

Commissioner Malmström pointed out that in September 2018, CETA’s first Joint Committee adopted a recommendation seeking to increase women’s access to and benefit from the opportunities created by CETA. The EU and Canada are now implementing it. In April they jointly organized a workshop in Brussels where businesswomen, civil society, public sector and international organizations, including OWIT-Toronto, shared experiences on integrating the gender dimension in trade policy. The European Commission also recently launched a study on Women in Trade. Carried out by the International Trade Centre, it will fill an important knowledge gap on the participation of women in extra-EU trade and barriers they face.

The Honourable Jim Carr, Canadian Minister of International Trade Diversification, highlighted Canada’s strong commitment to supporting trade opportunities for women so that they can grow and scale their businesses to take advantage of the benefits of CETA and other trade agreements. He mentioned that Canada is increasing the number of trade commissioners in Europe as part of the government’s trade diversification strategy and commitment to serve Canadian firms in key overseas markets. Minister Carr also emphasized the important contribution women make to sustainable economic growth through trade.

Participants identified recommendations for addressing some barriers to trade faced by women entrepreneurs. They expressed the need for more women-only trade missions, and for the inclusion of women in standard missions. They also discussed the importance of continuing to exchange experiences and best practices, and to highlight success stories through identifying role models and storytelling. Another interesting recommendation was to consider stepping away from the focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) as the current focus may keep women who are excelling in other sectors out of the newly-created wealth opportunities. The importance of engagement with immigrants and Diaspora population who have existing networks was brought up as a way to access new markets.

A summary of the discussion can be found here.

More Information about the Trade for Her Conference in the Brussels can be found here.

More Funding for Exporters through CanExport

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 13:44:47 GMT

CanExport, the Canadian government’s program that helps small and medium sized companies do business abroad, has announced changes to its eligibility criteria. As of August 22, 2019, the CanExport for SMEs project funding limit increased up to $75,000 to cover up to 75% of eligible expenses related to international market development. The CanExport SMEs program requires applicants to submit a project for which expenses total between $20,000 and $100,000. The program now reimburses up to 75% of eligible costs to offer between $15,000 and $75,000 in funding per project. Companies participating in trade missions organized by Global Affairs Canada for groups under-represented in international trade (e.g. women, LGBTQ2 and Indigenous exporters) may exceptionally submit a project of less than $20,000 for consideration.

The CanExport program will provide your company with financial support and will allow you to gain access to personalized advice from experienced trade commissioners that will help you identity potential markets, partnerships, and opportunities to achieve your international business needs.

If you want your business to grow globally, you may choose up to five export markets to target where your company has no or minimal business. In order to be eligible, your company must be for-profit, be an incorporated legal entity or LLP, have a CRA business number (unless Indigenous-owned or led), employ no more than 500 full-time equivalent employees, and declare between $100K and $100M in annual revenue in Canada during the last 12 months.

Activities eligible for CanExport SMEs funding include business travel, market research, participation at trade events and fairs, adaptation and translation of marketing tools, intellectual property protection, and adaptation of contracts, as well as expert advice on business, legal or tax matters. Most applications are approved in less than 25 days.

On top of supporting Canadian SMEs, CanExport also provides funding to innovators who want to develop R&D collaborations to commercialize new technologies through partnerships in foreign markets, to associations that would like to pursue international business development activities, and to Canadian communities that wish to attract, retain and expand foreign direct investment.

For more information visit here.

OWIT’s 20th Anniversary Gala an Inspiring Evening

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 13:33:30 GMT

“Wonderful turnout, great range of participants, and a selection of excellent speakers, I loved that panel!” This is how OWIT-Toronto member Aylin Luisi of UPS summed up our 20th anniversary celebration and Awards ceremony held at the Toronto Board of Trade on September 17. An inspiring panel of our chapter’s founders, including Candice Rice, Molly Zito, Susan Baka and Gail Morris, shared their international trade journeys and insights on global trade issues in a fireside chat moderated by Cindie-Eve Bourassa of Global Affairs Canada. Some of the take-aways:

OWIT was launched in Canada after the first Business Women’s Trade Mission to Washington.
Joining OWIT helped all the panelists develop a strong network of contacts, which often led to new roles or new business.
Many other valuable resources exist in Canada to help women export, including the Business Women in Trade program and Trade Commissioner Service of Global Affairs Canada, EDC, BDC and the Magnet Export Portal.
The role of women in trade has evolved dramatically in the last 20 years, with the topic of trade and women’s economic empowerment now on the agendas of international organizations like the UN, APEC, OECD and World Trade Organization.
Growing protectionism is a big challenge on the international trade front.
Getting involved with OWIT and networking are great ways for young women to meet role models and advance their careers or businesses.

The panel was followed by an equally inspiring Awards presentation to outstanding women who have made a mark in trade. The 2019 winners are:

Isabella Bertani, JoAnna Townsend Award for Leadership in International Trade, recognized for her global speaking on trade topics and for mentoring young women

Myra Sable, Sable & Rosenfeld, Woman Exporter of the Year Award, honoured for putting Canada on the map entering new markets and conquering taste categories with win-after-win in international specialty food competitions for almost 50 years.

Hamideh Mahmoudi, Centennial College, Student of International Trade Award, recognized for her excellent knowledge of international trade and for creative problem solving.

Kudos to all the nominees for their outstanding achievements:

Townsend Award finalists: Professor Maureen Irish, University of Windsor; Nicole Lunstead, Trade Commissioner, Global Affairs Canada; Karin Muller, Director, Trade Compliance for North America, Magna International; Christine Nakamura, VP, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, Toronto Office
Woman Exporter Award finalists: Rhonda Barnet, President & COO, AVIT Manufacturing; Natalia Mykhaylova, Founder & CEO, WeavAir; Niru Somayajula, President & CEO, Sensor Technology Ltd.; Shelby Taylor, Founder & CEO, Chickapea
Student Award finalist: Ledia Dervishay, Centennial College

A big thanks to our sponsors: the Diversity Institute/Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, EDC, and Jewels4Ever and to supporter Global Affairs Canada.

G7 Performance on Trade

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 15:01:16 GMT

The G7 summit was taking place in Biarritz, France this year. The G7 Research Group from the University of Toronto has prepared a briefing book that covers most of the main issues that is discussed at the summit.

The book has contributions from France's President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Prime Ministers of Italy, Australia, among others.

Maria Marchyshyn also contributed to the book with her insights on page 70-71. She evaluated recent trade agenda and analyzed G7 trade discussions.

You may reach the publication for the full article and more here.

OWIT-Toronto Participated in EDC Industry Stakeholder Panel

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 13:57:31 GMT

OWIT-Toronto, represented by Alma Farias, Past- President and Board Member, joined some of the most important business organization and industry association leaders in Ottawa this year to participate in Export Development Canada’s (EDC’s) 14th Industry Stakeholder Panel focused on trade diversification and corporate social responsibility. This annual panel is organized by EDC to discuss trade related matters. OWIT-Toronto was one of the two new participants this year.

At the evening reception, EDC President and CEO Mairead Lavery welcomed guests, including Canada’s Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, the Honourable Mary Ng. The Minister noted that a small percentage of Canadian SMEs export, with the majority of those exports going to the US. She acknowledged that these companies need better access to capital, additional market research and information on navigating intellectual property concerns. The $1.1 billion Export Diversification Strategy and federal support for the Trade Accelerator Program are examples of how the government is responding to these concerns.

Ms. Lavery opened the panel discussion session at EDC’s head office by welcoming participants and sharing reflections on her first 100 days in the role of President and CEO.

Panelists also heard from two distinguished speakers: Ailish Campbell, Chief Trade Commissioner and Assistant Deputy Minister, Global Affairs Canada, and Peter Hall, Vice-President and Chief Economist, EDC, who provided high-level macroeconomic and policy context for the day’s discussions. Participants then broke into groups to discuss the two themes for the day: trade diversification and responsible and sustainable business.

OWIT-Toronto actively participated in the trade diversification discussion group. Among the challenges noted by participants:

The low level of awareness among their members of the resources available to help them to diversify their exports and operate responsibly
The need to help SMEs embrace digitization.

As an opportunity, participants noted how value chains provide an important platform for diversification. A list of recommendations to be considered by EDC was submitted by participants at the end of the discussion. You may see the 14th EDC Industry Stakeholder Panel Executive Summary here.

OWIT- Toronto appreciated the opportunity to have visibility and a voice before EDC and important business and industry representatives that influence decision makers in the public and private sectors. This was an ideal forum to highlight the relevance of women entrepreneurs and the role women play in international trade and our commitment to educate women on the benefits of growth in trade diversification for exporters and Canada. We look forward to continuing participation in the coming years.

OWIT-Toronto recognizes EDC’s efforts and commitment to listen and learn from business organizations and industry associations in order to support and serve more Canadian exporters. Congratulations to EDC for the excellent organization of these valuable panels and gatherings.

OWIT 2019 Businesswomen’s Trade Mission to Monterrey, Mexico: a Success Story

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 14:49:39 GMT

OWIT-Toronto’s trade mission to Monterrey in February was so successful that the participating Canadian businesswomen returned with leads, and some even with requests for quotes. An important outcome of the trip was the impact made by the group, which helped showcase the contribution of women in international trade, particularly in male-dominated sectors. This was highlighted by some media outlets in Mexico.

Myrna Bittner, CEO and Founder of RUNWITHIT Synthetics (RWI), is one of the 11 businesswomen who participated in this mission. When she decided to pursue opportunities in Monterrey as part of the delegation, she was hoping to make business connections in Mexico, but at the time she did not know those relationships would grow and strengthen as fast as they have.

Myrna founded RWI Synthetics, a company leading the development of Synthetic Intelligence, five years ago. Synthetics are Artificial Intelligence driven agents that learn, observe, plan and respond creatively and that can be coordinated at an exponential scale to bring other technologies and systems to life realistically. They can be applied by the health, banking, manufacturing and utilities industries to remove critical risk. They can also bring entire cities to life, including citizens and smart infrastructure, to connect, innovate, and experience even the most unpredictable disaster response and recovery scenarios.

Not even half a year ago, Myrna met with Axtel for the first time as part of the business matching program coordinated by OWIT-Toronto. Axtel is a Mexican telecommunications company, part the ALFA group that manages a portfolio of diversified subsidiaries and operates 133 plants in 28 countries.

After her meetings in Monterrey, Myrna left Mexico convinced that she would be returning soon. “This was one of the best organized trade missions I have ever experienced because it was all about entrepreneurs,” she says. “The mission’s spirit was to make things happen, and to connect people. I gained amazing contacts that would have taken me a long time to find and I had incredible meetings.”

Five months later, she has returned to Monterrey, and things have progressed so positively that RWI Synthetics has been chosen to participate in ALFA’s 2019 business accelerator, called NAVE, run by Alestra, ALFA’s IT company. RWI Synthetics is one of the eight companies selected from 3,700 companies considered from around the world. Being part of this accelerator program has given Myrna access to funding, business development, and infrastructure support, as well as curated introductions to some of the more than 18,000 Alestra clients.

In this brief period of time, Myrna has already presented to Axtel and Alestra’s executive group, the Vice Presidents, and at a client event. RWI Synthetics has recently added synthetic cities to its portfolio of capabilities, delivering the keynote at IoT World Expo in California with Itron, and simulating an earthquake in Synthetic Santa Clara. They demonstrated different ways of using Smart City data to provide 42,000 citizens with location specific relevant emergency information using utility data streams.

In addition to her prospects, Myrna has kept in touch with other contacts she met while in Monterrey, to ensure she has a network she can reach out to, like the Trade Commissioner Service at the Canadian Consulate General in Monterrey, when she visits. Moreover, the trade mission also allowed her to build another network with fellow Canadian businesswomen. In her most recent visit, Myrna was pleasantly surprised to learn that another delegate from OWIT-Toronto’s trade mission to Monterrey, Barb Wilmer, Director of Sales at Racer Machinery International, was also in town following up on opportunities with contacts in Mexico. They were able to get together and share their experiences, which is another valuable outcome of the trip.

“Thank you to OWIT for showing me what Monterrey is all about and how to navigate the landscape, and for curating such amazing meeting,” says Myrna. The best part is that she is not the only one making great strides as a result of this trade mission. OWIT-Toronto is proud to have contributed to these successes and committed to continuing to encourage trade diversification among Canadian businesswomen.

EDC’s Stakeholders: Showing the Way Forward!

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 14:33:43 GMT

Just recently (May 27 and 28), I had the great pleasure of sitting down with a group of national business and industry associations for one of my most important meetings of the year—our annual Industry Stakeholder Panel.

Add to that our special guests, the Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion—the Honourable Mary Ng, and Canada’s Chief Trade Commissioner, Ailish Campbell, and you can imagine that we had a really great conversation. Everyone around the table shared a true passion for Canadian trade and investment.

EDC has been holding stakeholder panels for 14 years, but this was my inaugural event as President and CEO, so I asked that participants focus on two key topics for the day—trade diversification, and corporate sustainability and responsibility (CSR).

The first, trade diversification, reflects the federal government’s priority to grow Canadian trade. It’s also, of course, been a longstanding objective of our own.

The second topic, sustainable and responsible business, is equally important. As I reminded the panel in my opening remarks: “CSR is not a nice-to-have for EDC. Nor is it something that happens alongside of our business. It is our business.”

On both of these topics, our stakeholders provided tremendous insight into what was top-of-mind for their associations, what they are doing to promote trade diversification, address corporate sustainability and responsibility, and, of course, they had lots to say about how EDC can help their membership.

Here is just a snapshot of what was shared around the table:

There is a strong desire for a better flow of information between EDC, the government and the associations’ membership. In spite of gatherings like this one, there’s not enough dialogue. We can do better—and we will.

Industry associations know about EDC’s tremendous ground-level support, but not enough Canadian companies do. They want to help their member companies understand the role of EDC (and the Trade Commissioners and all other government programs and services available to Canadian exporters).

There was great advice about making CSR more real by using everyday language to make it more meaningful for businesses. A fabulous idea.

Industry stakeholders are looking for more help in the realm of digital technology and in particular, how can we improve Canadian skills and adapt to new technologies to ensure that companies find more innovative ways to grow.

Finally, there was a lot of talk about “bragging and branding.” There’s a real desire for us to be bolder in foreign markets. Our stakeholders want EDC and the Government of Canada to provide more support in promoting what Canadian companies (big and small) have to offer abroad. I promise you, I heard this one loud and clear.

As you can see, there’s no shortage of ideas and great thinking among EDC’s incredible business and industry stakeholders.

Now it’s our turn. We’ll be taking this dialogue to the next level, not just continuing the conversation (as important as that is) but moving on these ideas. Stronger, clearer messaging on CSR? We can do that. More thinking on digital technology? Of course. Raising awareness of EDC among Canadian companies? You bet!

Waving the Canadian flag more than ever around the world? Just watch us!

I’ve only been on the job four months, but I can tell you that I am only getting more excited about how EDC can be a real force, delivering for our industry stakeholders, of course, but mostly for the thousands of Canadian companies we can help to go, grow and succeed internationally.

When I took on my role, I committed to champion Canadian exporters—big and small—and raise our collective visibility. These conversations highlight how important that is. Let’s get started!

Mairead Lavery

President and Chief Executive Officer

Export Development Canada

FITT and OWIT International Support the Advancement of Women in International Trade

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 23:50:58 GMT

FITT and OWIT International Support the Advancement of Women in International Trade The Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) is collaborating with The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) International, to support the advancement of women and the professional growth of OWIT members with expert trade training, resources and certification.

FITT’s online courses and workshops enable you to pursue your self-directed training whenever and wherever it’s convenient for you. Target the topics that matter most to you or your business or complete all of the courses and earn your CITP®|FIBP® designation.

As an OWIT member, you can access this professional global trade training with these exclusive member-only discounts:

Get $50 off any online courses

Get $25 off any online workshops

Please contact Cortney at VP-Partnership@owit.org to obtain these member-only discounts for FITT!

The Forum for International Trade Training, FITT The Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing international business training, resources and professional certification to individuals and businesses.

Whether you’re looking to grow your business, invest in personal development for your employees, or meet your own personal career goals, the right training and certification can help you enhance your knowledge and credibility, stand out from the competition and take advantage of opportunities.

Endorsed by and in collaboration with Export Development Canada (EDC), FITT provides training courses that give you the world’s most up-to-date, industry-validated global trade information available. The courses are created with the help of many experts working in the global trade industry, to ensure all material is tailored to help you develop the practical skills you need to succeed in meeting the everyday demands of international business.

Special offer exclusively for OWIT members

FITT is offering OWIT members a special opportunity to get early access to their new FITTskills Lite online course previews before they launch!

What are FITTskills online course previews?

If you’ve been thinking about taking a FITTskills course or workshop but wonder if it will meet your needs, FITT's new FITTskills Lite e-book downloads can help you try before you buy.

Early access

Early access to FITT's new course previews allows you to:

Take advantage of industry-backed resources created directly from the FITTskills program

Try before you buy

Learn without deadlines or exams

Focus on the topics that matter to you

Read through an entire unit in an hour or less and move on to the next

Special offer

BONUS: For a limited time only, downloading a unit also gives you access to 25% OFF of the purchase of a related course or workshop.

Your next steps:

Go to the FITTskills Lite page, and select the unit(s) you'd like to download.
Complete and submit the download form. If you are an existing customer, log in first to have parts of the form auto-fill for you.
Check your email to get your unit e-book and your discount code.

Don’t delay. Download your units to get your 25% discount!

Questions? Contact us at info@fitt.ca or chat with us live at FITTforTrade.com.

Plan now to attend fall OWIT International Conference in Florida

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 23:47:27 GMT

Interested in meeting women in international trade from OWIT chapters from around the world? With the theme Year of the Woman, the 19th Annual OWIT International Conference to be hosted by OWIT Tampa Bay from October 23-25 offers an interesting and exciting combination of events in Orlando and Tampa, Florida.

The full schedule includes:

Wednesday, October 23

Orlando Business Day (No Host Lunch/Dinner) 8:30 AM-4:30 PM (limited to first 50 registrants) Orlando entrepreneurial ecosystem tour including a private tour of Bridg and the National Entrepreneur Center. BRIDG is a versatile boutique microelectronics fabrication facility.

Bus transportation will be provided from Orlando to Tampa after the tour.

Thursday, October 24

#OWITConTampaBay - Year of the Woman! 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM The Conference day features 16 dynamic speakers and 6 thought-provoking sessions!

Port Tour 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM (limited to first 80 registrants)

A relaxing, insightful journey by boat to see the physical world of imports and exports first-hand. There is nothing quite like being on the water and observing Florida’s largest port and the largest economic engine on this side of the state. The two-storey vessel has an air-conditioned downstairs and a covered top deck. This tour is an excellent opportunity to learn and to continue networking with your fellow conference attendees.

Awards Dinner 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Our favorite quote from last year’s dinner - “That was fun!” Chris Hamilton, Shutts & Bowen.

We aim to have all of our guests repeat this quote for themselves at the 2019 Annual Awards Dinner. It will be a high-energy evening planned to inspire, motivate, and empower. Hear from one of Florida’s leading woman, Alex Sink, clap along as our International Person of the Year receives her award, and congratulate our two university scholarship winners. There is something for everyone at this Dinner. The best part – you will be there!

Friday, October 25

OWIT Board Meeting. All are welcome to attend! 9:00 AM -5:00 PM Meet your OWIT colleagues from chapters around the world to find out more about the organization and to share tips and best practices.

No Host Dinner at Brio, 6:30 PM (RSVP to secretary@owit.org

Early bird registration for the full program is US$234 (OWIT members), US$299 (non-members) and students (US$100) and is available until September 6.

Check out the full program, registration options and hotel details are at https://www.owitcontampabay.com/.

Space is limited for some parts of the program. Be sure to register today!

New EDC Program Provides Growth Capital for Women Exporters

Mon, 13 May 2019 21:34:22 GMT

Export Development Canada (EDC) recently introduced a new $50-million Women in Trade Investments Program to provide equity capital specifically designed to help Canadian women entrepreneurs. EDC will work with women-owned and -led businesses that are strong candidates for significant export growth. The support will come in the form of equity capital through both direct investment and investment in Canadian venture capital funds that demonstrate a commitment to gender diversity on both sides of the entrepreneur/investor table.

“The market clearly has a gap in terms of women accessing capital at the critical commercialization stage, and we want to do more to address this,” said Jennifer Cooke, EDC’s Corporate Lead for Women in Trade. “For example, we know women entrepreneurs are more likely to access capital when there are women investors on the other side of the table, so we’re seeking fund partners who are also committed to improving gender diversity within their own senior management.”

For more information, visit EDC’s Women in Trade page.

OWIT at Women Entrepreneur Knowledge Hub Launch Event

Mon, 13 May 2019 21:29:08 GMT

OWIT-Toronto participated in a kick-off event in April for the partners and supporters of the Women Entrepreneur Knowledge Hub (WEKH), led by the Diversity Institute, a “think and do” tank, along with the Ted Rogers School of Management and Brookfield Institute at Ryerson University. The goal of this community of practice which, to date, is coordinated through 9 regional hubs with over 75 partners and 100,000 women entrepreneurs is to provide a platform and portal to collect and share best practices to create an inclusive innovation ecosystem. WEKH is part of the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy which aims to double the number of women entrepreneurs by 2025 and to support export growth and scaling up.

“We want to challenge the classic definitions and stereotypes of entrepreneurship and drive real change, not just have lofty goals,” said Wendy Cukier, Director of WEKH, noting that entrepreneurship is typically measured through a male lens, with a tech focus, whereas most women are in the services sector and tend to have smaller businesses. “Having 1,000 companies create one job each or one company creating 1,000 jobs are equal in contributing to GDP. ”

Specifically, WEKH will:

Measure and assess the progress of women entrepreneurship in Canada to determine what works and what doesn’t
Collect, analyze and disseminate information and advance research
Support and share best practices and knowledge.

In breakout sessions, participants provided this feedback:

Appreciate the value of good stories in addition to data when measuring entrepreneurship
Ensure stories and research are inclusive and represent diversity, and do not just profile the super entrepreneur
Help support women’s organizations so they can support women in scaling up their businesses

WEKH’s advanced technology platform to link women entrepreneurs and their organizations to resources and best practices will be powered by Magnet which currently links talent to help grow businesses and also is home to the Magnet Export Portal.

OWIT International Newsletter

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 17:21:27 GMT

THE ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE APPLAUDS RECIPIENTS OF ITS ANNUAL AWARDS FOR 2019

WASHINGTON, DC – The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) is pleased to announce the recipients of its annual awards. Presented at OWIT’s annual meeting in Washington, DC, the awards recognize outstanding contributions to the organization and showcase how the winners leverage their passion and dedication to advance women in international trade and business.

“The 2019 award recipients are all outstanding contributors to OWIT and the broader global trade and business community,” says OWIT International President, Jennifer Diaz, “We celebrate the accomplishments of our annual award winners. They are stellar examples of what makes OWIT such an extraordinary global organization.”

2019 Woman of the Year – Susan Baka, President, Bay Communications & Marketing Inc., and VP International, OWIT–Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Susan Baka’s passion for trade is deep and palpable. An energetic advocate for women exporters and for OWIT, she is a prolific writer and global speaker on trade, women’s entrepreneurship and diversity. She has represented OWIT on panels at the World Trade Organization and in free trade stakeholder consultations. Susan is a founder of the first Canadian chapter of OWIT – in Toronto – and has served on the international board for almost 20 years. As a start-up expert, she has spearheaded countless communication initiatives as well as trade missions to Mexico, Australia and the US, and has mentored the start-up of chapters in other countries. In her own business, Susan works with financial institutions, governments and organizations to help companies go global. She served on the Canadian Minister of International Trade’s SME Advisory Board from 2008–11 and, most recently, participated in the Canadian government consultations on the NAFTA renegotiation. “Whether mentoring other chapters, grooming young women to take on leadership roles in OWIT or speaking passionately to elevate the image of OWIT at local, national and international events, Susan is a strong role model,” says OWIT–Toronto advisory board member Gail Morris. “She nurtures her contacts in many countries, always promotes OWIT during the course of her own work, and feels strongly about showcasing other role models to inspire women to pursue international trade and business.”

2019 OWIT Chapter Member of the Year – Deborah “Debbie” Fallucca, CPA, Treasurer, TBOWIT (Tampa Bay, Florida, US)

A principal and CPA with the Tampa firm, Gregory, Sharer & Stuart, Debbie Fallucca is entering her third year as TBOWIT’s Treasurer. During this time, she has not only adm

irably accomplished this role, but contributes in myriad ways to the chapter. No task is too big or too small as she helps with all that is asked. She makes connections at every networking event the chapter hosts, and has even hosted her own TBOWIT events and promoted TBOWIT at external events. “Debbie is truly passionate about the mission of TBOWIT and OW

IT–International,” says TBOWIT’s President C

hristyna Doege. “She is a pillar and brings her extensive expertise as a CPA to our organization and a level of seriousness and professionalism from which we all benefit. Quick to compliment and support, we would be the poorer if we did not have Debbie on our team! She makes it all look easy!”

2019 OWIT Chapter of the Year – OWIT–Nairobi, Kenya

OWIT–Nairobi is committed to raising the awareness and advancement of significant trade-related issues. It conducts trade missions that serve as a platform to inform different stakeholders about OWIT and its mission. In 2018, OWIT–Nairobi organized a trade mission to Rwanda in partnership with the Embassy of Rwanda that saw a number of entrepreneurs do business with that country. In addition, it proudly hosted the 18th Annual OWIT Conference, bringing together different trade experts, entrepreneurs and corporates for a three-day, highly-successful event which helped build partnerships with numerous stakeholders. It illustrates its leadership as a chapter by mentoring other OWIT chapters and sharing organizational management experience, processes and procedures.

OWIT–Nairobi is recognized locally as a leader on international trade issues. It enhances professional development of its members through mentoring, sponsoring programs and activities to support the development of personal and professional skills and establishing educational programs, conferences, and other activities to promote international trade employment. “OWIT Nairobi is passionate about empowering women to transform communities through global trade and this award is an affirmation of the work that we are currently doing on the continent,” says its President, Mucha Mlingo, “Thank you to OWIT–International for recognizing the work that went into hosting the 2018 conference, OWIT’s first international conference outside of North America.”

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CALL FOR PAPERS: MAY 29 – 30, 2019.

NAIROBI, KENYA INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE PARTICIPATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN TRADE

TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth (UoP) and the Centre for International Trade and Investment Law – India invite researchers and policy practitioners to participate in a research and policy symposium through submission of innovative and high-quality applied research and policy papers that explore the effective participation and empowerment of women in trade for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development.

The submitted papers can be applied or conceptual. While conceptual papers are encouraged to be of direct policy relevance; applied papers must contain empirically tested approaches. Both papers should include examples and experiences, particularly in Africa (papers with practical examples from other parts of the World are also welcome), of the different trade facilitation measures and their associated benefits, opportunities and challenges for effective participation and empowerment of women in trade.

The organizing committee will accept papers from the following thematic topics that relate to participation and empowerment of women in trade:

Legal and institutional barriers
Inclusion and exclusion in global markets
Trade policy advocacy
ICT for trade
Data and measurement of participation and empowerment of women in trade
Socio-cultural enablers and limiters, climate change
Regional and continental economic integration.

Of interest too will be papers that focus on a south-south comparative analysis on these topics.

Submit your complete paper to siat@trademarkea.com by April 30th, 2019.

Visit www.trademarkea.com for more details on thematic topics, and symposium registration and logistics.

Limited logistics sponsorship shall be made available to facilitate presentation of selected papers at the conference.

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OWIT-DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PARTICIPATED IN THE 2ND EDITION OF THE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND ENTREPRENEURS 2019

OWIT–Dominican Republic participated in the second edition of Mujeres Empresarias y Emprendedoras on March 27th, 2019 by Emprende SDQ. The conference, “Dominican Republic in International Trade”, by Mabel Báez, president of OWIT–DR, was a great success, with the attendance of more than 150 people, including women entrepreneurs and influencers from different sectors. Support came from several recognized companies in the country.

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BUSINESS WOMEN’S TRADE MISSION TO MONTERREY, MEXICO IS A HUGE SUCCESS

TORONTO, ON – A group of 11 Canadian business women representing multiple industries who participated in a trade mission to Monterrey, Mexico this month returned to Canada with some immediate business and leads. Spearheaded by the Toronto chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT–Toronto), the mission provided opportunities for female business owners and professionals to export and expand globally, as well as to showcase the contribution of women in international trade, in historically male-dominated industry sectors, in both Mexico and Canada.

“This was one of the best organized trade missions I have ever experienced because it was all about entrepreneurs,” said Myrna Bittner, CEO and Founder of RUNWITHIT Synthetics, “This mission’s spirit was to make things happen, to connect people and to progress things. It was not just political or diplomatic. I gained amazing contacts that would have taken me a long time to find and I had incredible meetings. I might go back to Mexico next month.”

Participants’ sectors included auto-manufacturing, IT, education, transportation, legal, international trade services and government. Coordinated by OWIT–Toronto Co-President Alma Farias, the initiative was facilitated by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service from Monterrey’s Canadian Consulate, in cooperation with the OWIT–Monterrey Chapter, the Ministry of Economy and Labour of the State of Nuevo Leon, and the Cluster TIC Nuevo Leon.

“The trade mission led to a better understanding of the business potential for Canadian companies and has already resulted in business for some,” says Farias. “It also inspired local amazing women entrepreneurs who are now planning a potential Mexican women trade mission to Toronto next year. I am so proud that OWIT–Toronto has fostered a two-way inclusive trade deal with Mexico in this special year when both countries celebrate 75 years of bilateral relations. And it could not have happened without the collaboration of our Canadian and Mexican partners.”

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FROM THE CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE MARCH 2019 ISSUE

Carolina Rendeiro: Chief Marketing and

Development Officer, Connect2Global

Carolina Rendeiro, OWIT South Florida VP, has been involved in workplace innovation, international trade, and Coral Gables for more than three decades. Most recently she was president of the World Strategic Forum (2016 – 2018) and VP of International Development for eMerge Americas (2013 – 2016). She previously founded the first co-working space and incubator program in Coral Gables, and was president of the Global Workspace Association. She sits on the boards of BB&T, Sister Cities International, the Coral Gables Economic Development Department, and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce (she was chairman 2007 – 2008). Rendeiro is also executive director of Sister Cities of Florida, the incoming president of the Miami Chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade, and lives in downtown Coral Gables.

Latest Achievement

Rendeiro recently returned from her native Portugal, where she is working to establish a sister city for Coral Gables, and to encourage investment in both directions. She is also consulting on technology for schools and government services in Brazil, Argentina and Chile, and working to attract a fashion institute from London.

What She Says

“People are so close to what we have here, that they don’t actually understand what we have here,” says Rendeiro. “The EU uses us as a launch point for businesses [in the US and Latin America] because we have the diversity, the melting pot of cultures. We also have the people with knowledge that have been in this market a very long time and know how to interconnect it.”

Rendeiro wants to see more US investment in Europe because it will come back to us. “This is how we differ [from Europeans]. We want everything as direct investments into us. The EU looks at it as a two-way street that will benefit us all in the long run.”

Click here to read the article in the March 2019 issue of the Coral Gables Magazine

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CHAT RECAP: WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS SHARE THEIR SECRETS OF SUCCESS

Starting or growing your own business is tough. For women, there are even more challenges that come into play. The numbers tell the story about the challenges women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses face.

Approximately 16% of small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada are majority women-owned.
Only 10% of high-growth firms are owned by women.
Globally, women are less likely to be entrepreneurs and face more disadvantages starting businesses: In 40% of economies, women’s early stage entrepreneurial activity is half or less than half of that of men’s.

And yet, there is a growing understanding that when women succeed, everyone succeeds. It’s estimated that promoting gender equality could add $150 billion to Canada’s GDP.

Now is a good time to focus on supporting the advancement of women in business. With a growing understanding across the globe that a balanced world is a better world, International Women’s Day 2019 generated new heights of conversation, inspiration and celebration. We decided to join the conversation and asked ourselves, how do we advance the success of women-led business and women’s entrepreneurship?

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NCBFAA NEEDS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS LIKE YOU!

The NCBFAA Educational Institute (NEI) invites all OWIT members to consider authoring an export-focused case study for their Certified Export Specialists! Each year, NEI designees need to earn 20 continuing education credits, and to assist them the NEI offers four free online case studies so that designees can meet their credit requirement without cost or travel. The case studies are based on pertinent industry topics – past topics include export compliance, ZTE, and license determinations.

Authoring a case study is not only a great way to flex your brain muscles and share your expertise, but it is a great way to promote yourself to thousands of students! The case study will be branded with your name and company logo (if applicable), as well as link to your website which will be seen by any NEI student who completes the case study.

While you can author the content for a case study from scratch, you can also opt to base it off a regulation or trade document. We then need 15-20 questions and an answer key with citations. That’s it! The NEI provides templates and will format and edit the case study before loading it into the system.

If you are interested and would like an example or more information, please contact NEI Director Cecilia Ferrara at nei@ncbfaa.org.

The Organization of Women In International Trade Applauds Recipients of Its Annual Awards For 2019

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 15:22:19 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) is pleased to announce the recipients of its annual awards. Presented at OWIT International's annual meeting in Washington, DC, in March, the awards recognize outstanding contributions to the organization and showcase how the winners leverage their passion and dedication to advance women in international trade and business.

“The 2019 award recipients are all outstanding contributors to OWIT and the broader global trade and business community,” says OWIT International President Jennifer Diaz. “We celebrate the accomplishments of our annual award winners. They are stellar examples of what makes OWIT such an extraordinary global organization.”

2019 Woman of the Year – Susan Baka, President, Bay Communications & Marketing Inc., and VP International, OWIT-Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

In her own business, Susan works with financial institutions, governments and organizations to help companies go global. She served on the Canadian Minister of International Trade’s SME Advisory Board from 2008-11 and, most recently, participated in the Canadian government consultations on the NAFTA renegotiation. “Whether mentoring other chapters, grooming young women to take on leadership roles in OWIT, or speaking passionately to elevate the image of OWIT at local, national and international events, Susan is a strong role model,” says OWIT-Toronto advisory board member Gail Morris. “She nurtures her contacts in many countries, always promotes OWIT during the course of her own work, and feels strongly about showcasing other role models to inspire women to pursue international trade and business.”

2019 OWIT Chapter Member of the Year – Deborah “Debbie” Fallucca, CPA, Treasurer, TBOWIT (Tampa Bay, Florida, US)

A Principal and CPA with the Tampa firm Gregory, Sharer & Stuart, Debbie Fallucca is entering her third year as TBOWIT’s Treasurer. During this time, she has not only admirably accomplished this role, but contributes in myriad ways to the chapter. No task is too big or too small as she helps with all that is asked. She makes connections at every networking event the chapter hosts, and has even hosted her own TBOWIT events and promoted TBOWIT at external events. “Debbie is truly passionate about the mission of TBOWIT and OWIT International,” says TBOWIT’s President Christyna Doege. “She is a pillar of this organization who brings her extensive expertise as a CPA to our organization and a level of seriousness and professionalism from which we all benefit. Quick to compliment and support, we would be the poorer if we did not have Debbie on our team! She makes it all look easy!”

2019 OWIT Chapter of the Year – OWIT-Nairobi, Kenya

OWIT-Nairobi is committed to raising awareness and advancement of significant trade-related issues. It conducts trade missions that serve as a platform to inform different stakeholders about OWIT and its mission. In 2018, OWIT-Nairobi organized a trade mission to Rwanda in partnership with the Embassy of Rwanda that saw a number of entrepreneurs do business with that country. In addition, it proudly hosted the 18^th Annual OWIT Conference, bringing together different trade experts, entrepreneurs and corporates for a three-day, highly-successful event which helped build partnerships with numerous stakeholders. It illustrates its leadership as a chapter by mentoring other OWIT chapters and sharing organizational management experience, processes, and procedures.

OWIT Nairobi is recognized locally as a leader on international trade issues. It enhances professional development of its members through mentoring, sponsoring programs and activities to support the development of personal and professional skills and establishing educational programs, conferences, and other activities to promote international trade employment. “OWIT Nairobi is passionate about empowering women to transform communities through global trade and this award is an affirmation of the work that we are currently doing on the continent,” says Mucha Mlingo, President. “Thank you to OWIT International for recognising the work that went into hosting the 2018 conference, OWIT’s first international conference outside of North America.”

Trade Opportunities for Canadian SMEs in Vietnam under the CPTPP

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 14:23:02 GMT

The Canada Vietnam Trade Council hosted a "CPTPP: Vietnam" event on March 11, 2019 at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre, where OWIT board member Julie Nguyen had the opportunity to have a fireside chat with The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, on various topics from access to capital for Canadian SMEs to government support for underrepresented small business owners such as women, Indigenous people, and youth. Speakers included representatives from Global Affairs Canada; Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade; Export Development Canada (EDC); Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC); and Commercial Counsellor, Trade Office, Embassy of Vietnam in Canada.

The minister held that the Vietnam-Canada partnership is strong, expressing her hope to connect businesses of the two sides to promote two-way trade. She said the Canadian side can fund its enterprises’ activities to research the market and join trade fairs to seek business opportunities in Vietnam. Statistics showed that in 2018, Canada exported 1.02 billion CAD worth of goods to Vietnam, while importing 5.38 billion CAD worth of commodities from the country.

Jay Allen, deputy head of CPTPP negotiation team of Canada, highlighted the strengths of the Vietnamese market, including the strategic position in Southeast Asia, young population, and high GDP growth of more than 6 percent annually since 2014. Allen said cooperation opportunities between the two countries are abundant in agriculture, aquatic farming, infrastructure, green technology and ICT.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nguyen Dai Trang, Director of the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council, said since the CPTPP was ratified, Canadian firms have paid greater attention to Vietnam. She revealed that the council will introduce the Vietnamese market to Canadian businesses through the organisation of and participation in events, while also helping delegations study the Vietnamese market.

Business Women’s Trade Mission to Monterrey, Mexico, Huge Success

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 16:35:22 GMT

Business Women’s Trade Mission to Monterrey, Mexico,

Huge Success

TORONTO, ON – A group of 11 Canadian business women representing multiple industries who participated in a trade mission to Monterrey, Mexico, this month returned to Canada with some immediate business and leads. Spearheaded by the Toronto chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT-Toronto), the mission provided opportunities for female business owners and professionals to export and expand globally, as well as to showcase the contribution of women in international trade, in historically male-dominated industry sectors, in both Mexico and Canada.

“This was one of the best organized trade missions I have ever experienced because it was all about entrepreneurs,” said Myrna Bittner, CEO and Founder, RUNWITHIT Synthetics. “This mission’s spirit was to make things happen, to connect people, to progress things, and was not just political or diplomatic. I gained amazing contacts that would have taken me a long time to find and I had incredible meetings. I might go back to Mexico next month.”

Participants’ sectors included auto-manufacturing, IT, education, transportation, legal, international trade services and government. Coordinated by OWIT- Toronto Co-President Alma Farias, the initiative was facilitated by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service from Monterrey’s Canadian Consulate, in cooperation with the OWIT- Monterrey Chapter, the Ministry of Economy and Labour of the State of Nuevo Leon, and the Cluster TIC Nuevo Leon .

“The trade mission led to a better understanding of the business potential for Canadian companies and has already resulted in business for some,” says Farias. “It also inspired local amazing women entrepreneurs who now are planning a potential Mexican women trade mission to Toronto next year. I am so proud that OWIT-Toronto has fostered a two-way inclusive trade deal with Mexico in this special year when both countries celebrate 75 years of bilateral relations. And it could not have happened without the collaboration of our Canadian and Mexican partners.”

Activities kicked off with a networking breakfast hosted by OWIT- Monterrey with guest speaker Rhonda Barnet, Immediate Past- Chair of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), and the first female Chair in the CME’s history. “We were able to showcase what Canada is doing to increase female participation in manufacturing through the excellent presentation done by Rhonda on the CME- program #WE CanDoIt,” notes Farias.

Individual business-to-business meetings were held with potential customers, suppliers and business partners. Delegates also participated in conferences and meetings with local industry clusters, government and educational organizations, tours of various research and development facilities, and a visit to the Expo Manufactura trade show. An evening reception held later in the week was hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce-Monterrey and Canadian Consulate with more than 100 local business people in attendance.

“This trade mission was beyond everyone’s expectations and I’m convinced good things will come from it, “said Lyse Moreau, President and CEO, International Sew Right Co, a manufacturer of safety clothing. “I have already landed an order from the last meeting I had. I found everyone I met very proactive, and the trade show we attended was fantastic, with surprisingly good response.”

The trade mission was the first initiative after an MOU was signed by the OWIT-Toronto and OWIT-Monterrey chapters in March, 2017 in the presence of the Canadian Minister of International Trade and the Consul General of Canada in Monterrey. Supporters of the trade mission included EDC, Global Affairs Canada, Bennett Jones and the Ontario government.

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About OWIT

OWIT-Toronto (The Organization of Women in International Trade-Toronto) (www.owit-toronto.ca) is part of an international non-profit professional organization with chapters around the world (www.owit.org), dedicated to advancing global trade opportunities for women.

Press release: Exclusive Businesswomen's Trade Mission Heads to Mexico

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 21:56:45 GMT

Media Contact:

Alma Farias

416.458.6872

alma.farias@tradepartners.ca www.owit-toronto.ca

EXCLUSIVE BUSINESS WOMEN’S TRADE MISSION

HEADS TO MEXICO

TORONTO, ON - Ten Canadian businesswomen from manufacturing, IT, service, education and government sectors will be travelling to Monterrey, Mexico for a week-long, unique trade mission the first week of February to explore business opportunities. Spearheaded by the Organization of Women in International Trade-Toronto (OWIT-Toronto), the mission is designed to encourage female business owners, professionals, executives and service providers to export and expand globally. It also seeks to showcase the contribution of women in international trade and women in some male-dominated sectors.

“After the successful conclusion of the NAFTA negotiation process and a Canada-US-Mexico agreement was reached last year, this is a timely initiative that will assist early stage and growth-oriented manufacturing and service provider companies in getting an inside perspective on supply chain opportunities,” says Alma Farias, Co-President of OWIT-Toronto, who is leading the mission for OWIT-Toronto.

Participants will receive a full program of meetings with representatives of clusters, industry executives and government officials who are instrumental in the business community, in addition to customized one-on-one meetings with prospective customers and business partners, a visit to the Expo Manufactura trade show, and a number of quality networking events. Rhonda Barnet, Immediate Past Chair of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), and the first female Chair in the CME’s history, will be a guest speaker.

The trade mission is the culmination of a collaboration agreement signed between the OWIT-Toronto and OWIT-Monterrey chapters in March 2017 in the presence of then Minister of International Trade of Canada, Francois-Philippe Champagne and the Consul General of Canada in Monterrey at the time, Bez Babakhani. “OWIT is pleased to be leading the mission because both chapters signed this agreement with a determination to follow with actions and results,” adds Farias.

Supporters of the trade mission include Export Development Canada, Global Affairs Canada, Bennett Jones and the Ontario government.

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About OWIT

Round table discussed Pacific Alliance

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 16:01:51 GMT

OWIT-Toronto is increasingly being invited to give input on free trade agreements. Most recently, in May, some members participated in a joint Global Affairs Canada and OWIT Roundtable for Women Entrepreneurs with Canada’s Ambassadors to Chile, Colombia, Peru and Mexico on opportunities in the Pacific Alliance. Moderated by OWIT-Toronto President Anita Agrawal, the roundtable featured overviews from Patricia Peña (Ambassador of Canada to Chile), Marcel Lebleu (Ambassador of Canada to Colombia), Gwyn Kutz (Ambassador of Canada to Peru and Bolivia) and Pierre Alarie (Ambassador of Canada to Mexico).

The Pacific Alliance is a regional initiative created in 2011 by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru that seeks the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. As one of the first countries invited to become an Associated State of the Pacific Alliance, Canada is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with Alliance members as a bloc. Canada has comprehensive free trade agreements with all four Pacific Alliance members individually.

The women-owned business attendees at the roundtable gave their input on what is needed to facilitate trade with the Pacific Alliance countries and posed specific questions about opportunities and challenges.

OWIT in CETA

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 15:57:16 GMT

OWIT-Toronto recently partnered with the Belgian Canadian Business Chamber (BCBC) for a joint event on CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union. Our President, Anita Agrawal, was among four panelists who, together, gave an excellent overview of CETA. Owner of Best Bargains Jewellery and an exporter to over 20 countries, including those in Europe, Anita provided practical tips on how to sell abroad. These include: hire a student to help do your research, access Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service for additional help, participate in trade missions, attend chamber of commerce meetings to pick up tips, meet new contacts and find out about available government support, and visit the EU to start building relationships.

The session was moderated by Christian Frayssignes, VP, BCBC. Other panelists covered the benefits for Canadian companies brought in by CETA, which is a very progressive agreement (Andrew Defor, VP, Canadian International Council, TO Branch), the government procurement chapter in CETA (Pasquale Madonna, Sr Consultant, Trade & Customs, KPMG), the support available to Ontario exporters from the government (Romi Jaszczynski , Sr Export Advisor, Ontario Ministry of International Trade), and an overview of the Belgian market (Andre van der Heyden, VP & COO, BCBC).

This was an information-packed event. Don’t miss out on future ones!

Trade Group Lauds Canada's Approach to Responsible Business Conduct Abroad

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 22:44:44 GMT

TORONTO, ON – The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) welcomes the recent announcement of two new initiatives to strengthen Canada’s approach to responsible business conduct for Canadian companies doing business and operating abroad, which aim to set a new global standard for Corporate Social Responsibility.

The first is the creation of an independent Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), the first of its kind in the world. The CORE will be mandated to investigate allegations of human rights abuses linked to Canadian corporate activity abroad. The CORE will seek to assist wherever possible in collaboratively resolving disputes or conflicts between impacted communities and Canadian companies. It will be empowered to independently investigate, report, recommend remedy and monitor its implementation. The CORE’s scope will be multi-sectoral, initially focusing on the mining, oil and gas, and garment sectors, with the expectation to expand to other business sectors within a year of the Ombudsperson taking office. The second is the creation of a multi-stakeholder Advisory Body to advise the Government and the CORE on responsible business conduct abroad.

“Canada’s leadership in strengthening responsible business conduct abroad reflects the values supported by Canada’s progressive trade agenda where all parties should benefit from economic development, and contributes to Canada’s reputation as an international business partner of choice,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, who made the announcement.

“As supporters of Canada’s progressive trade agenda, OWIT is pleased to see Canada taking this leadership role in promoting responsible business conduct abroad,” says Susan Baka, VP-International, OWIT-Toronto. “We have been providing input through various government channels on making trade more inclusive for more people and welcome these initiatives that further broaden Canada’s approach to inclusive trade and emphasize respect for human rights worldwide.”

“The fact that this was worked on with different stakeholders including the Canadian Labour Congress is very positive, showing great support for this and demonstrating where the government is going on trade,” adds Tamaika Jumelle, VP, OWIT-Ottawa, who represented OWIT at the announcement in Ottawa, along with VP Ainsley Butler. “By setting new standards, this positions Canada to lead on progressive trade issues and also benefits societies and countries where Canadians do business.”

Global Women Trade Experts Lead Trade Mission to Geneva: OWIT-Toronto Urges Greater Participation of Women-Owned Businesses in Trade

Sun, 16 Oct 2016 05:25:36 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 11, 2016) – A delegation of global trade experts representing policy professionals and women-owned businesses convened in Geneva, Switzerland to engage global officials as well as participate in a high-level panel at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum to urge the acceleration of women-owned businesses in global trade. Leadership from the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) represented members from across the globe and chapters in Africa, Canada, Europe, Latin America and the United States during the week-long trade mission.

For more details, click here.

The Organization of Women in International Trade to Play Active Role at Upcoming WTO Public Forum in Geneva

Sat, 17 Sep 2016 03:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 15, 2016) – The Organization of Women in International Trade (“OWIT”) will be participating in the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) largest annual outreach event which provides a platform for participants to discuss the latest developments in world trade and to propose ways of enhancing the multilateral trading system. Taking place in Geneva September 27-29 and marking the 15th anniversary of this flagship event, the 2016 WTO Public Forum (www.wto.org) will examine how the WTO can foster SMEs' participation into the global market. It will also discuss how women can participate more fully in international trade and how they can overcome the constraints preventing them from reaping the benefits of trade.

OWIT will present a panel on Shaping the Rules to Facilitate Active Participation of SMEs and Women in Global Markets on September 27. Member panelists will share real-world experiences and insights on barriers to participation by SMEs and women-owned small businesses as well as success stories.

As part of the Forum, OWIT will also have a display to promote the benefits of its international network.

“Since the Forum attracts over 2,000 heads of state and leading global businesspeople, academics and non-governmental organizations to discuss some of the major trade and development issues of the day, it represents an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of

OWIT and promote our offerings,” says OWIT President Andrea Ewart.

Among these offerings are valuable OWIT webinars that provide timely, relevant and practical information on a broad variety of topics from top expert speakers in international trade and business, including issues specific to women's role in these fields. Fall topics include:

The Cultural Considerations for Successful Business in Southeast Asia (Oct. 5)
How to Create a Risk Mitigation Strategy for Your Global Growth & Success (Nov. 2)
Doing Business in Africa (Dec. 7)

Full details and registration can be found at www.owit.org/programs/webinars .

About OWIT

Founded in 1989, The Organization of Women in International Trade International (www.owit.org) is a voluntary, non-profit professional organization dedicated to advancing global trade opportunities for women through networking and educational programs. It is comprised of more than 2,000 members in local chapters operating in the Americas, Europe, and Africa as well as “virtual” chapter comprised of individuals who do not reside or work in localities with a local OWIT Chapter.

OWIT International Quarterly Newsletter CONNECT is here!

Sat, 17 Sep 2016 03:00:00 GMT

Look at what is going on with OWIT International!

Joining in Designing our Future
DC Extends Joint Programming Invitation
OWIT to Present at WTO Public Forum
New App Facilitates International Trade by Women
International Board Meeting to Future Panel on Inclusive Trade
OWIT and GroYourBiz Team Up to Support Women Entrepreneurs

Download your copy here.

Federal Budget 2016 and International Trade

Mon, 18 Apr 2016 22:43:56 GMT

The federal budget included key provisions about Canada’s trade future, tying it to the growth of the middle class, an improved employment landscape, and the ability of companies to compete internationally.

Among the highlights:

The government, which hasn’t made a final decision on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and is still consulting with Canadians, noted that the deal would provide opportunities to bolster Canadian trade with the Asia-Pacific region, enhance North American production and improve job quality in Canada

Ottawa stated its intent on forging a stronger trade relationship with significant emerging markets like China and India

The budget addressed Canada’s manufacturers, a sector which has struggled for more than a decade from intense competition and a high dollar, and promised to remove some tariffs and provide $9 million in tariff savings over the next five years to Canadian manufacturers in the consumer goods and transportation sectors

The Liberal government plans to hold public consultations on scrapping tariffs on food manufacturing ingredients other than supply-managed products. The government’s rationale is that eliminating tariffs on imported ingredients will bolster investment and job creation by sharpening the competitiveness of Canadian agri-food processors at home and abroad

Ottawa also aims to strengthen its trade remedy system by consulting with stakeholders and address unfairly traded goods entering the Canadian market, including through legislative amendments

For more information about 2016 budget. Click here

OWIT International Quarterly Newsletter CONNECT is here!

Wed, 27 Jan 2016 21:39:26 GMT

Look at what is going on with OWIT International!

OWIT's Webinar "Celebrating 25 years of OWIT Past, Present, and Future" Highlights
OWIT International new website has been launched!
Introducing our OWIT International Executive Team for 2016-2017
Kudos to Miami Chapter for hosting our Fall Board Meeting!
Save the date: Geneva (Switzerland)

Download your copy

BDC increases term lending to women entrepreneurs

Fri, 15 Jan 2016 19:03:38 GMT

In response to the Action Plan for Women Entrepreneurs announced by the Minister of Status of Women in 2015, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is stepping up its efforts to help women‑owned businesses grow and reach their business goals through financing and consulting services.

It has committed to increasing its term lending to majority women‑owned businesses to at least $700 million over the next three years. Details

New federal government program for SME exporters

Tue, 05 Jan 2016 17:24:26 GMT

A new program to increase the competitiveness of Canadian companies, CanExport, was announced on January 5, 2016. It will provide up to $50 million over five years in direct financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to develop new export opportunities, particularly in high-growth priority markets and sectors. For more information, visit the CanExport website.

Diverse Group Takes Reins to Lead Global Women's Group

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 19:16:50 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 1, 2016) – The Organization of Women in International Trade (“OWIT”) is pleased to announce that a team of dynamic and accomplished group of global women elected to serve on the 2016-17 OWIT Executive Committee assumed their roles January 1, 2016. These Executive Committee members will lead the world’s premier organization for women and men who are focused on sharing global business knowledge and contacts, peer mentoring, professional development and entrepreneurship. More

Export Trailblazers Recognized

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 16:15:06 GMT

Joy Nott, President & CEO, I.E.Canada (The Canadian Association of Importers & Exporters), is this year’s recipient of the JoAnna Townsend Excellence Award for Leadership in International Trade, presented at the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) – Toronto Annual Awards Gala. (news release)

Support to boost Canadian exports to emerging markets

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 17:36:02 GMT

The Government of Canada announced a new export market development program which would provide a total of $50 million over five years in direct financial assistance to entrepreneurs seeking to export to emerging markets for the first time. News release

OWIT-Toronto's Co-president clinches international award

Fri, 30 Jan 2015 18:04:49 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 30, 2015) – The Organization of Women in International Trade (“OWIT”) is pleased to announce selection of Ms. Alma Farias as the 2014 Woman of the Year, Ms. Beatrice Kagondu as the 2014 Chapter Member of the Year, and OWIT-Ottawa as the 2014 Chapter of the Year. Read the news release

International women’s group elects dynamic new board for 2015

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 17:24:02 GMT

The Organization of Women in International Trade-Toronto (OWIT-Toronto) is pleased to announce that a dynamic and accomplished group of women were voted in this week as the 2015 Executive Committee of theToronto chapter of the world’s premier organization for women interested in doing business globally. (news release)

2014 OWIT-Toronto Award winners announced

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 19:05:52 GMT

Alma Farias, owner of Trade Partners and Ontario Representative for TFO Canada, is this year’s recipient of the JoAnna Townsend Excellence Award for Leadership in International Trade, presented at the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) – Toronto Annual Awards Gala.

Diana Pitsolis, President & CEO of Spongezz, clinched OWIT-Toronto’s Woman Exporter Award, which recognizes an Ontario woman entrepreneur who exports to more than one international market.

Winner of the Student of the Year Award is Laura McLeod who participated in the U.S. Commercial Service Internship Program at the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto in 2013 with consistently outstanding results.

News release