Seminar and workshop on policies and programs to promote the participation of women in international trade. (5.7)

ASEAN’s remarkable economic growth has outperformed the global economy, thanks in large part to trade liberalization efforts. However, there is a lack of representation of women-owned enterprises in international trade, both globally and within ASEAN. To address this, ASEAN, with support from ESCAP, the OECD, and the Government of Canada, has developed a strategy and toolkit to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship. They have sought technical assistance from EDM to focus on trade and promote gender-responsive trade policies, collect gender-disaggregated data, and enhance policymakers’ capacities in developing such policies. This assistance aligns with the ongoing Canada-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement negotiations and aims to deepen Member States’ understanding, build consensus, and strengthen implementation capacity through virtual seminars and in-person workshops on international best practices, gender provisions in trade agreements, and practical policymaker training.