[Washington D.C., March 8, 2025] — The Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT), the leading global organization supporting women in business, professional development & education, networking, and entrepreneurship, has released its statement on International Women’s Day 2025.
Empowering Women in Trade: Accelerating Action for a More Inclusive Future
On International Women’s Day 2025, under the theme “Accelerate Action,” the Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT) reaffi rms its commitment to breaking barriers and creating opportunities for women in trade across its chapters and in all areas of global commerce.
For decades, OWIT has been at the forefront of championing gender-inclusive trade policies, fostering leadership, and equipping women entrepreneurs with the resources they need to compete in international markets. Through our global knowledge-sharing and capacity-building programmes, mentorship initiatives, and strategic partnerships and networks, OWIT is accelerating action to remove barriers that limit women’s participation in trade. By signposting and connecting women-led businesses to global opportunities, driving the discussion for inclusive policies and access to fi nance and supporting digital transformation, OWIT is ensuring that women are not just participants but leaders in the global economy.
However, women in trade are not a homogenous group. Representing many cultures and communities worldwide, we recognise that despite the progress, many women—especially those from marginalised communities—continue to face systemic challenges in accessing trade networks and supply chains, fi nancial services, and policy support. Indigenous women, in particular, encounter unique barriers that hinder their ability to scale and sustain businesses.
Indigenous women represent a signifi cant proportion of our chapter members across the continents and this year, we are highlighting fi ndings from our current international research on Indigenous women led by our OWIT Intelligence Unit on their challenges and barriers to trade.
In their communities, Indigenous women are key drivers of economic development, yet many still report inadequate access to fi nance, struggle with market access, and face economic marginalisation. Complex trade regulations, limited infrastructure, and socio-cultural barriers continue to hinder their growth and progress. Despite these challenges, Indigenous women remain resilient—actively engaged in trade organizations, while the majority have seen growth in their businesses through networking and collaboration. These issues are not only relevant for Indigenous women – they are experienced across our member chapters by all women in trade.
To accelerate action, OWIT is championing change through an international call for action by leaders and policymakers to:
Strengthen trade facilitation and fi nancial inclusion—as women in trade struggle to fi nd reliable buyers or suppliers.
Expand leadership, skills development, and networking opportunities, recognizing that women business women leaders highlight collaboration as key to success.
Drive gender-sensitive trade policies to remove structural barriers, as decision-making exclusion is another major obstacle.
We celebrate the resilience and achievements of Indigenous women and our global family of chapter members who are shaping the future of international trade. Their successes—from leading export-driven businesses to transforming local industries—are proof that when women thrive, economies flourish. Together, we can accelerate the action needed for progress, foster inclusivity, and ensure that no woman is left behind.
#AccelerateAction #IWD2025 #WomenInTrade #EmpowerIndigenousWomen #OWIT
The Organization of Women in International Trade (‘OWIT’) was established in 1989 as a non-profi t, voluntary organization to foster international trade and the advancement of women in business. Their growing network in Africa, Canada and North America; Central and South America and Europe continues to provide a collective forum to support education, facilitate information exchange and promote networking.
As an organisation, it is guided by 5 pillars which focus its work:
- Championing Gender Trade, where OWIT consults and contributes to policy impacting women in trade
- Empowering the ecosystem for women in trade
- Promoting access to knowledge – where OWIT facilitates, signposts to information, provides access to training, learning and upskilling
- Providing Network Support – support through access to the global OWIT networks and chapters
- Facilitating Partner Collaboration – OWIT partners, collaborates and contributes towards economic empowerment through advocacy, discussion, participation and sharing of knowledge
If you have questions or need more information about becoming an OWIT member or starting a new chapter, visit our website or email admin@owit.org.
Contact Information: Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT)OWIT President, Hulya Kurt
For more information on OWIT, visit https://owit.org or contact us at admin@owit.org.