Canada, Sweden co-host virtual round table with women entrepreneurs

Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Mary Ng, on Tuesday, co-hosted the Canada-Sweden Ideas Roundtable on women entrepreneurship with Anna Hallberg, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs.

The ministers listened to the women entrepreneurs, who shared their expertise and experience in innovative sectors, such as artificial intelligence and cleantech.

They discussed the challenges and opportunities facing women entrepreneurs as both countries work toward an economic recovery that is sustainable and inclusive, and the ministers committed to working together to support women entrepreneurs in both countries, according to a press release.

During the round table, Minister Ng outlined Canada’s work to advance gender equality by removing barriers to women’s participation in trade, including through the adoption of the trade and gender recommendation in the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Minister Ng also highlighted Canada’s commitment to helping women entrepreneurs succeed, which includes an investment of nearly $5 billion in direct financing and dedicated support for women entrepreneurs under the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES).

Both ministers noted that today’s discussions are just the beginning and committed to continue working together to support all women as the 2 countries recover from the pandemic.

Associated links

• Businesswomen in international trade
• CETA trade and gender recommendation: Canada-European Union work plan 2020 to 2021
• Doing business in Sweden
• Women Entrepreneurship Strategy
• Export Diversification Strategy
• Trade and gender in free trade agreements: The Canadian approach