54 - 56 rue de Montbrillant
in Geneva 1202
To date, 127 Member States and Observers have joined the WTO Buenos Aires Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment. The Declaration was spearheaded by the Trade Impact Group, under the auspices of the International Gender Champions. Building on the momentum achieved by this important accomplishment, a series of seminars to share experiences and best experiences have taken place on various topics.
This seminar focuses on advancing women’s economic empowerment through financial inclusion, with an emphasis on trade finance and impact finance. Speakers will share experiences and lessons learned, discuss challenges and opportunities going forward, and highlight implications for policy makers and the international community.
The workshop is co-organised by Rwanda, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Intra-American Development Bank, International Trade Centre and Islamic Development Bank, in cooperation with the WTO.
Draft agenda
08.30 – 09.00 Welcoming Coffee
09.00 – 09.45 Opening Remarks
- H.E. Ms. Marie-Chantal Rwakazina, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Rwanda
- Ms Arancha González, Executive Director, International Trade Centre
- Mr Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General, WTO (TBC)
- Mr Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General, UNCTAD (TBC)
- Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO, International Islamic Trade and Finance Corporation
09.45 - 11.00 Session 1 —Supply Chain and Trade Finance
Access to trade and supply chain finance is fundamental for exporting women businesses. In this session, we will discuss about how different finance providers support women entrepreneurs in exporting to new markets.
- Mr. Agyinsam, Chief Executive Officer of the EXIM Bank of Ghana and President of the Global Network of Export –Import Banks and Development Finance Institutions
- Mr. Steven Beck, Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program, Asian Development Bank
- Speaker, International Islamic Trade and Finance Corporation TBC
- Ms. Amal Hassan, CEO and Founder, Outsource Global, Nigeria
Moderated by H.E. Ms. Marie-Chantal Rwakazina, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Rwanda
11.00 - 12.15 Session 2 – Women and Finance
The first panel will provide global, regional and national perspectives on the current and future trajectories of financial inclusion for women, including reflections on innovative approaches, new knowledge, and unresolved challenges.
- Ms. Vanessa Moungar, Director of Gender, Women and Civil Society, African Development Bank
- Ms. Samantha Hung, Deputy Representative, European Representative Office, Asian Development Bank
- Ms. Vanessa Erogbogo, Chief SIVC, International Trade Centre
- Ms. Kristonia Lockhart, Lead Gender Specialist, Islamic Development Bank
- Ms. Sandra Péloquin, Director, International Relations, Business Development Bank of Canada
12.15 - 13.30 Session 3 – Impact Finance
In this session, we will discuss about practical examples about how international organizations, development finance institutions and impact investors collaborate to support the growth of women-owned and women benefitting entrepreneurs.
- Netherlands FMO (Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank)
- Ms. Federica Sambiase, CEO, Working Capital Associates
- Ms. Christine Roddy, Executive Director, AlphaMundi Foundation
- FinnFund (TBC)
- Mr. Ismael Barry, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD)
- Ms. Heidi Hafes, Market Development Manager, Shell Foundation
13.30- 13.40 Wrap up and Closing Session
13.30- 15.30 Closed Networking Lunch