Female-led MSMEs get boost from Women Strong Network Hybrid Trade Fair

Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) constitute more than 99% of businesses in the Philippines. During the pandemic, they have served as the economy’s backbone. 

54% of these MSMEs are headed by women. While women entrepreneurs are making significant strides in the business world, fostering their development, and helping them improve their businesses for the economic benefit of the country has been the goal of the Women’s Business Council Philippines (WomenbizPH). WomenbizPH is the lead private sector partner of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Commission on Women, which has been advancing the women’s agenda in the APEC and ASEAN region. It is the leading voice of women in commerce and provides a platform to discuss women’s issues in business and possible government policies and solutions. 

This July, WomenbizPH initiates the Women Strong Network Hybrid Trade Fair. The event will leverage the existing nationwide spread of 120 Women Strong Network members and Womenbiz PH’s long standing partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and new collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO). 

This 3-day onsite and 3-week online activity will be held in NCR (Manila) from July 29 to 31 at the Event Area, Building A Lower Ground, SM Megamall Mandaluyong while the online exhibit can be viewed from August 1 to 20, 2022. The second round of the trade fair will happen in SM City Cebu from September 2-4, 2022 followed by the online exhibit from September 5-24. 

Customers who choose to attend on site get the chance to shop right away. Those who choose to go online, instead, can shop conveniently through tradefair.womanbiz.ph, to be fulfilled via Kahanga-hanga PH platform. This platform will also serve as the perpetual digital store partner of the Women Strong Network exhibitors. Kahanga-hanga PH is an e-commerce advocacy program of logistics leader The Airspeed Group of Companies which is devoted to helping commendable MSMEs market and sell their outstanding products. Airspeed Chair and President Rosemarie Rafael says: “When people are empowered, it creates an innate desire of self-determination, which when nurtured could translate to positive results. Supporting women-owned businesses help build a ladder for more women to take their vision into ventures and pass on what they learn to empower others to follow suit”.

Mylene Abiva, Chairwoman of WomenbizPH explains they opted for the hybrid set up as it allows more opportunities for both physical and digital connections with buyers. It is deemed an innovative way to showcase products and services of the Women Strong Network exhibitors to the local and global market while strengthening their networks to help them prosper in the e-commerce business scene.

The Hybrid Trade Fair is just one of the many up and coming projects in the pipeline for the Women’s Business Council which is celebrating its 25th year anniversary this August 2022.  Abiva says they are also currently involved with ARISE Plus Philippines whose aim is to support women entrepreneurs by opening export opportunities of their products and services to the European Union (EU). 

To know more about the Women Strong Network’s Hybrid Trade Fair and how you can be part of it, contact Jerome dela Cruz at [email protected] or Jonna Cansancho at [email protected]. 

ADVT