Dates: September 30th (Montreal) and October 1st (Quebec)
WEConnect International in Canada in partnership with Reséau de Femmes d’affaires du Québec and Développement Économique Féminin invite you to attend a two-day conference on “Women-Owned businesses Powering the Canadian Economy.” The conference will take place on September 30th and October 1st 2014 in Montreal and Quebec respectively.
Agenda
On Day 1 delegates will be exposed to the important role of Canadian women owned business in international supply chains, learn about good business practices and how to grow business through supplier diversity, and hear from success stories of WEConnect certified women-owned businesses. Day 2 will emphasize strategies to win contracts as well as the certification and leadership programs available through WEConnect International. Supplier diversity in Quebec will also be highlighted.
One-on-one meetings with certified women-owned businesses and a trade fair on Day 2 offer great opportunities for networking and direct interaction with women-owned businesses.
Astrid Pregel, Executive Director & Global Advisor of WEConnect International In Canada had this to say on the upcoming conference:
“Increasingly, we are seeing multinational companies build their supplier diversity programs by doing business with women-owned companies as first and second tier vendors. For Canadian women business owners this translates into new opportunities, not only in Canada, but an important opening to exporting product and services around the world, especially to the USA. The WEConnect International in Canada Annual Conference will provide a forum for corporate buyers and women entrepreneurs alike to share expertise and make valuable business connections.”
Certification
WEConnect International helps women-owned businesses succeed in global value chains. The organization identifies, educates, registers, and certifies women’s business enterprises based outside of the U.S. that are at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more women, and then connects them with multinational corporate buyers. WEConnect International’s Seal of Certification is a formal guarantee to corporations that they are purchasing goods and/or services from women owned business that meet universal standards for women’s business enterprises (WBEs). Four criteria considered are ownership, management & control, contribution of capital & expertise, and independence.
The WEConnect Seal of Certification Process is available to a number of women owned foreign suppliers from TFO Canada’s priority countries such as Peru and Indonesia. The process is also available to countries with which Canada has free trade agreements (FTA) including Chile, Costa Rica, Jamaica (CaribCan FTA) and Mexico that have access to TFO Canada’s online services