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From the Co-President's Desk
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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 |
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*Save the Date* The Geopolitics of International Trade: Strategies for Building Business Resilience |
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Join OWIT-Toronto and Bennett Jones for an insightful discussion on the geopolitical challenges international trade is currently facing, on building a resilient business strategy in a changing geopolitical landscape, and why making geopolitical resilience a strategic priority for businesses’ global footprint expansion should be of utmost significance. Key lessons will also be shared on how businesses can keep a close eye on geopolitical trends to be ready for the new strategic, legal and operational challenges in the years ahead.
This discussion will be followed by high-calibre business networking and a light cocktail. Registrations will open soon! |
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*Save the Date* EV transition in Northern Mexico outlook exploring opportunities for Canadian exporters |
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Above: OWIT Board Members [l] Aliaa Alsafarjlani, [r] Priti Ruparel, and Casa Foundation’s Olutoyin Oyelade [centre]
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In honour and celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, Casa Foundation hosted the 4th edition of Women in Business and Leadership Women Inspire Forum on March 10. 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”. |
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Above: [l to r] Isabel Hudon, BDC President, Nathalie Bradbury, OWIT Ottawa President, Susan Baka, Jenna Stubbs, MP Kanata-Carleton, Parliamentary Secretary for Women, Gender Equality and Youth
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International Women’s Day |
To mark International Women’s Day, OWIT Toronto Board Member Susan Baka participated in an event with Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development and with Isabel Hudon, President of the Business Development Bank of Canada, in Ottawa. Also on March 8, 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. |
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Above: OWIT Toronto Board Members, Cathy Williamson, Jessica Horwitz, Justine Namara and Audrey Ross, with Minister Mary Ng |
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Event for the 2023 State of Women’s Entrepreneurship Report |
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Team Canada Trade Missions
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Indo-Pacific economies are the fastest growing in the world. Launched in November 2022, Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy creates opportunities to expand trade and investment, grow good jobs and build supply chain resilience. To help Canadian businesses gain a foothold in the region, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, will lead Team Canada Trade Missions to India and Japan in Fall 2023, thereby opening doors to connect Canadian businesses from across the country to new customers and partners.
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Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada To Lead Canadian Women-Only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand |
The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, with strong support from the public and private sectors, will lead a mission, “Smarter Living: The Canadian Women-Only Business Mission to South Korea and Thailand” in autumn 2023.
The foundation is accepting delegate applications for this funded mission. As part of the foundation’s 2023 to 2025 mission series, this mission will focus on the cleantech, health tech, and information and computer technology sectors to spotlight the innovations Canadian women entrepreneurs bring to these sectors. |
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Trade Policy Committee Update
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. |
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New chapters to expand your global network….. Virtual happy hours to connect with members around the world… A celebration of OWIT small businesses…. |
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OWIT International Women's Day: From Equality to Equity: Enhancing Opportunities for Women in International Trade and Business
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This 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. |
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Session with U.S. Department of Commerce Kicked Off
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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. |
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OWIT International Spring Board Meeting
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Above: Meeting with Canadian Embassy staff in Washington
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In May, OWIT Toronto Co-President Audrey Ross and VP International Susan Baka participated in the Organization of Women in International Trade Spring Board meeting in Washington, DC. As partners of WEConnect International, they attended its Annual Gala, which included sponsors from Google, Amazon and other corporations committed to advancing equity and women’s economic growth around the world. The Gala featured Rachel Vogelstein, Special Assistant to the President, Gender Policy Council, as guest speaker. A meeting with the impressive trade policy team and trade commissioners from the Canadian Embassy was another highlight, along with a visit to Vital Voices Global Festival. Law firm of Husch Blackwell hosted OWIT’s board meeting and to the remarkable women on our board from around the world. The meeting was also an opportunity to highlight OWIT-Toronto and to promote the work of Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada. |
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Turkey Highlighted at the Roundtable
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Mexico Collaboration Agreement
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Above: [l to r] Canadian Consul General in Monterrey, Mexico, Sandra Shaddick , President of Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Monterrey Mexico (CanCham-Mty), Jorge A. Arrambide Montemayor, OWIT- Toronto Board Member, Alma Farias, andCoordinator of Inclusion and Equity Committee at CanCham- Mty. Karla Von Bertrab
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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 OWIT-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.
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OWIT-Toronto Partners with Futurpreneur Championing the Power of Entrepreneurship |
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Above (L-R): Anita Agrawal and OWIT-Toronto's Priti Ruparel
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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).
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Tap into more Procurement Opportunities: Together Moving Forward
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Are you a woman-owned business in Canada offering services in general contracting, material handling, facilities management, or security services? This summer, WEConnect International and UPS are collaborating to bring more procurement opportunities to women-owned businesses in Canada. Register to create a free business profile to make sure you don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!
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Discover the power of B2BeeMatch new features Trade Missions and Events! |
Check out our partners, B2BeeMatch’s latest success stories, an AI-driven business networking platform that helps businesses save time, money and effort. Read more on how 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.
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OWIT-Toronto joins Partners for the BCBC Business Excellence Awards Gala 2023 Edition |
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Above (L-R): OWIT-Toronto Board Members Justine Namara and Aliaa Alsafarjlani with Vinicius Morandi of the World Trade Centre Toronto
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The Belgian Canadian Business Chamber (BCBC) hosted its second edition of the BCBC Business Excellence Awards Gala on April 27th, 2023 at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto, Canada. It was a truly unique Belgian-Canadian evening celebrating Belgian business excellence in Canada, in addition to honouring the work of Canadian companies in Belgium. OWIT-Toronto joined partners and Belgian-Canadian business and diplomatic representatives to enjoy the finest of what Belgium has to offer – from chocolates, to beers, and to diamonds!
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OWIT-Toronto joins partners for the 9th Annual LumeSmart EarthDay Conference and Trade Show
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On the occasion of Earth Day this year, OWIT-Toronto was excited to partner with LumeSmart to celebrate the 9th Annual LumeSmart Earth Day with a focus on the topic of Energy Transition and bring this event with an amazing lineup of speakers for our members.
The goal of the event was to connect entrepreneurs and businesses in cleantech, especially in the energy transition industry to learn about available support from government and associations. |
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Don’t Miss Out on Any Member Benefits!
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Did you know that as a member of one of OWIT’s chapters, you are AUTOMATICALLY part of the OWIT International global network? Your complimentary OWIT International membership adds value to your local chapter membership by offering you added benefits and resources.
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Check Out What Our Partners & Sponsors are Doing!
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