By Caribbean News Global 
OTTAWA, Canada – Minister of small business, export promotion and international trade, Mary Ng, joined the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada to announce the first virtual trade mission to South Korea for women, supported by an investment from the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy’s Ecosystem Fund.
Through a series of virtual sessions, panel discussions, and business training, this mission—which will take place on November 3 – 4, 2020—will promote the expertise of Canadian businesses in offering sustainable solutions to natural resource management, in clean technology, in agritech, and in digital commerce.
“Canada is committed to an inclusive approach to trade, ensuring that everyone can access the benefits and opportunities of international trade. This virtual trade mission will pave the way for Canadian women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses in South Korea and the dynamic, growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region—and bring more Canadian innovative solutions to the world,” said, Mary Ng, minister of small business, export promotion and international Trade.
The mission will help Canadian women entrepreneurs explore opportunities in South Korea and help them grow their businesses in the international marketplace while also deepening the strong economic relationship between Canada and South Korea.
Canada is committed to advancing women’s economic empowerment by championing inclusive and rules-based trade that will help Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs overcome the impacts of the pandemic—ensuring that the global economic recovery includes all people, including women entrepreneurs, Indigenous business owners, and more.
Advancing women’s economic empowerment and participation in trade is fundamental to the government of Canada’s Export Diversification Strategy and is key to ensuring that the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is inclusive and sustainable.
The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada will select and coach 20 women entrepreneurs for this virtual trade mission through a series of virtual sessions occurring across a 2-week period in the fall of 2020. Interested candidates have until September 21 to submit their delegate applications, and successful applicants will be required to attend the pre-mission virtual training sessions.
Christine Nakamura, vice-president at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s Toronto office: “Supporting women entrepreneurs to expand into Asian markets will help our collective efforts to reboot Canada’s economy because the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement gives our businesses an edge over our competitors. South Korea is an excellent entry point into Asia’s growth markets.”
