OWIT partnered with CIDA to bring the delegates to our Annual Conference. Thanks to the efforts of our Past President, Leann Hackman-Carty of Canada, who secured the CIDA funding, the women from Africa, Mexico, South America and the Middle and Far East also participated in pre- and post-conference workshops to meet with representatives from the Trade Facilitation Office Canada (TFOC), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Women Leaders Network (APEC-WLN) and OWIT in order to discuss challenges and opportunities businesswomen face in emerging markets. The focus was developing solutions and synergies for working more closely together.

Among other things, the workshops were designed to:

• Strengthen OWIT's reach to African economies and expand the number of chapters in that region
• Explore future opportunities for TFOC, OWIT and APEC-WLN to work together

Three themes emerged from the workshops in terms of what women in developing countries need:

1. Access to education, finance, technology and markets
2. Advice from mentors and international trade trainers
3. Assistance from well-funded, collaborative networks and women's business centres

"The workshops were an excellent way to begin connecting networks of women's groups involved in international trade in a very tangible, positive way", says Leann. "Given the lack of financial resources available today, we believe we must continue to collaborate when and where possible."