KATHMANDU, Feb 11: A trade mission held in Manchester, the UK, brought together 50 women– led businesses from ten countries — Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal, and Pakistan -– with UK companies looking to diversify their supply chains.
According to a press statement issued by the International Trade Centre, British buyers are engaging with women entrepreneurs from various sectors, including fresh and processed agrifood, handicrafts, textiles, beauty, IT, and business process outsourcing, through a series of business-to-business meetings from February 10-12. A five-member Nepali delegation, led by FWEAN President Shova Gyawali, has reached Manchester as a part of the trade mission.
The mission aims to help British companies find reliable suppliers, reduce production costs and support the UK’s Made in UK strategy, promoting high-quality British exports and domestic industry growth.
The statement reads, “Participants visited UK companies relevant to their sectors and attended information sessions on trends, business environment, and UK market entry requirements, enhancing their knowledge. Six of the ten participating delegations were from SheTrades Hubs-global resource centres for women entrepreneurs co-owned by the International Trade Centre.”
UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, emphasized the challenges women entrepreneurs face in accessing export opportunities and market information, highlighting that the SheTrades Commonwealth+ programme connects women entrepreneurs from Asia and Africa with UK businesses to drive growth, according to the release.
“Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of ITC, stressed the importance of providing women entrepreneurs direct access to buyers and new markets, fostering gender-inclusive economic growth. Susana Córdoba, Head of International Trade at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, expressed delight in hosting the event, which is expected to strengthen global ties and lead to future commercial success,” the statement further reads.
The trade mission was organized by the SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme, funded by the UK Government, in collaboration with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and partnered with the London Chamber of Commerce, Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, and West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.