September 30, 2019, Brussels, Belgium - ECA Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe, joined a panel of the Opening Session, Empowering Women through International Trade - challenges and solutions. Building on the progress made since the 1st International Forum on Women and Trade in 2017, this Opening Session discussed the challenges to empower women through international trade and explored the potential solutions in their areas of work by analysing the complex relationship between trade and gender equality and taking stock of what has been achieved and what remains to be accomplished.

International trade contributes to 36 million jobs in the EU, but women occupy less than two fifths of those. Globally, women lead only 15% of exporting firms. The conference looked into the results of the first ever study on barriers for women in the European Union, who are engaged in international trade. High-level representatives from international organisations, governments, businesses and civil society shared their experiences, views and ideas on women in trade in four thematic panels in this one-day event.

The Conference was organized by organized by the European Commission and hosted by Cecelia Malmstrom, EU Trade Commissioner