ITC SheTrades Mongolia Hub launched at the 2023 World Export Development Forum
(Geneva/Ulaanbaatar) – Women entrepreneurs in Mongolia are set to play a bigger role in the country’s economic growth and efforts to diversify trade, with the opening of the International Trade Centre’s (ITC) SheTrades Hub in the country.
The SheTrades Mongolia Hub launched on 28 June at the World Export Development Forum (WEDF) 2023, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Hosted by the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), the SheTrades Mongolia Hub is a decentralized platform of the ITC flagship women and trade programme, the SheTrades Initiative. The Mongolia Hub joins 13 others spanning Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Through the Hub, women-led businesses in the country can access capacity building and market access opportunities offered by ITC. ITC will also offer institutional strengthening and gender mainstreaming services to bolster the Hub’s women-specific offerings.
‘Mongolian women are highly educated and own more than two-thirds of small businesses in the country, but they’re constrained by challenges related to ownership rights, financing and equal pay,’ said Pamela Coke-Hamilton, ITC Executive Director. ‘With the opening of the SheTrades Mongolia Hub, we look forward to building on our global network of public and private sector partners, so Mongolian women can play a stronger role in international trade.’
‘The SheTrades Hub Mongolia is a testament to our collective commitment to empowering women and fostering their active participation in foreign trade within the region, ultimately paving the way for sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the future,’ said Duuren Tumenjargal, the CEO of MNCCI.
In addition, the launch event of the SheTrades Mongolia Hub saw remarks delivered by Mongolia’s Minister for Labour and Social Protection, H.E. Bulgantuya Khurelbaatar; Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Amina J. Mohammed, followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ITC and MNCCI.
A high-level panel session on ‘Women in Trade – Connecting Communities, Opening Doors’ was moderated by Head of the ITC SheTrades Initiative, Judith Fessehaie, after the signing ceremony. Panellists included Baigali Ochkhuu, Vice-President of MNCCI; Xoliswa Daku, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Small Enterprise Development Agency (the host institution of the SheTrades South Africa Hub); Thérèse Sekamana, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of LED Solutions & Green Energy, as well as Chairperson of the Private Sector Federation Specialized Cluster, Rwanda (host institution of the SheTrades Rwanda Hub); Elaine Conkievich, the United Nations Development Programme’s Resident Representative in Mongolia; and Opeyemi Abebe, Head of Trade Competitiveness at the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Themed ‘Diversify with Green Trade’ for its 20th edition, WEDF 2023 saw high-level discussions centred on landlocked developing countries, access to finance, green and digital trade, as well as a youth pitch competition. The four-day event also featured business-to-business meetings for companies operating in the information and communications technology, natural fibres and leather sectors.
For more information on WEDF 2023, visit the conference webpage.
For more information on ITC SheTrades Hubs, click here.
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Notes for the editor
About ITC
The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, visit www.intracen.org.
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About ITC SheTrades Initiative
The International Trade Centre (ITC) launched the ITC SheTrades Initiative to remove barriers to women's participation in trade by working with governments, the private sector and entrepreneurs to build the business capacities of women and to create a fairer, more sustainable global economy. ITC SheTrades provides women entrepreneurs and producers with access to key knowledge, resources and networks; supports policymakers on inclusive policy reforms; and leverages public and private partnerships to amplify the impact of its work. For more information, please visit www.shetrades.com.
About the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) was founded in 1960. MNCCI is the main representative body of the businesses in Mongolia. Since our establishment, we have undertaken an ambitious venture to improve the business environment, and to make business opportunities in Mongolia accessible and beneficial for all companies and interested investors. The Chamber has 21 affiliated local chambers in all provinces of Mongolia. 23 business councils created and designed for entrepreneurs to serve as the platform for exchange of views on sectoral and specific issues, developing advocacy policies and further strengthening dialogue and cooperation with the relevant government agencies. The MNCCI has been an active member of the International Chamber of Commerce and World Chambers Federation since the early 90s’. We work in partnership with over 100 organizations in over 100 countries as well as with business and political leaders to support and connect companies, bringing together businesses to build new relationships, share best practice, foster new opportunities and provide practical support to help member businesses trade locally, nationally and globally.
Media contacts
Enerel Altanzagas
Head of Project and Program Department
Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
E: project [at] mongolchamber.mn
T: +976 77207070
