Context
Following LadyAgri’s panel on “Opportunities and benefits for women’s engagement with agri-business development” at FAO, Rome in June 2019 at the African Union - European Union Agriculture Ministers Conference. This 2021 series of workshops, contributes to the fourth African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Agriculture Ministerial conference. Keeping women at the heart of the Ministerial discussions on agri-trade policy, strategy and investment necessary to strengthen women’s leadership role in agri-value chains and within the AU-EU trade partnership, is a priority for LadyAgri and OWIT.
This workshop series: “Connecting Women –Led African SME’s to the EU Market” aims to equip women with all the necessary information to build strong and loyal business partnerships with EU buyers by respecting EU quality and compliancy regulations and overcoming barriers to trade: social and environmental standards, traceability, food safety, private certification, packaging, agri-equipment and technology, legal and especially IP knowledge necessary to do business within the EU market and under the AfCFTA (African Continental Free trade agreement).
The workshops will delve into women’s access to finance, and the EU blended finance mechanisms in place to promote agri-SME trade. The objective is to enable women to think outside their limitations and geographical boundaries and seize business opportunities.
The first workshop taking place on 17th of June will focus on the new EU “Green Deal” and “Farm to Fork” strategies, the consequence and the potential impact on women led agri-SME’s. With the support of key trade, finance and technical partners promoting sustainable and inclusive agri-value
chains, we will explore the opportunities for women to fully participate and benefit from a strong AU-EU partnership.
The second and third sessions of the series which will follow in September and November 2021, will take a deep dive into the obstacles and most importantly solutions, technical and financial, so women have a more detailed insight into trading with the European market and explore how women-led African businesses could enter this market as exporters and buyers.
The Proposed Agenda: 90 mins
Date: June 17th-2021- Time: 12-13:30 (CET)
12:00 - 12:05 - Opening remarks by moderator
12:05 - 12:15 - Panelist 1: Ms. Julia Nielson;
Deputy Director in Trade and Agriculture Directorate, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
12:15 – 12:25 - Panelist 2: Mr. Hernan Manson;
Head Inclusive Agribusiness Systems & Manager of the Alliances for Action work stream at the International Trade Centre (ITC)
12:25 - 12:35 - Panelist 3: Ms. Hilary Barry;
Founder & Secretary General of the LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub
12:35 -12:45 - Panelist 4: Ms. Sanaz Javadi; OWIT-Lake Genvea
International IP Lawyer and Vice President OWIT-Lake Geneva
12:45 - 12:55 - Panelist 5: Blessing Irabor;
CEO of Blissomo International Lt. and President of OWIT-Nigeria
12:55 -13:20 - Q & A
13:20 - 13:30 - Conclusion & closing remarks
This event is free of charge.
For further questions please contact our President, Hulya Kurt at president@owit-lakegeneva.org or our VP Partnership, Sanaz Javadi at vppartnerships@owit-lakegeneva.org.
OWIT Lake Geneva Team
