PCW GREAT Women Project 2 holds Market Match Forum

To help expand and develop new markets for women’s products, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) through the ECHOsi Foundation is organizing the GREAT Women Market Match Forum on March 11 at the Yuchengo Museum, RCBC Plaza, Makati City. GREAT stands for Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women.

The forum aims to create an environment that is conducive to the growth of women’s businesses particularly those from the micro enterprise sector, allowing them to thrive by providing them access to market, resources, trainings and other essential support mechanisms.

“In line with our women’s economic empowerment agenda, removing barriers to women’s access to markets will pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Through the GREAT Women Project 2, we expect more convergence of initiatives between and among the public and private sector to enhance the enabling environment for the economic empowerment of women,” said PCW Executive Director Emmeline Verzosa.

The GREAT Women Project 2, which is funded by the Government of Canada, brings together public and private sector players to promote the growth of women’s businesses through policy reforms and delivery of targeted programs and services for women in business. It targets to assist around 12,000 entrepreneurs and their workers by improving the competitiveness and sustainability of their businesses. The project will be implemented until 2020.

The GREAT Women Forum will feature learning sessions and panel discussions. Speakers include Ms. Jeannie Javelosa – Director of Echosi Foundation; Ms. Pacita Juan – Director of ECHOStore; Ms. Agnes Africa – Country Manager for Marketing, Communications, Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs of IBM Philippines; Ms. Elizabeth Hernandez –Head of Economic Growth Initiatives of Asia Pacific Facebook; Mr. Patrick Tang – Vice President of PLDT HOME Voice Solutions; and Ms. Ma. Aurora Geotina-Garcia – Chair of the Women’s Business Council of the Philippines. Also speaking at the Forum are DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Cuison-Maglaya, PCW Executive Director Emmeline Verzosa and Canada’s Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder.

Around 150 participants from women MSME sector, medium and large corporations, women’s groups, women business owners or representatives, government partners and media are expected to attend the event.

The activity is a collaboration between the PCW, the ECHOsi Foundation, the Department of Trade and Industry, and Government of Canada, and is part of the month-long celebration of National Women’s Month with the theme “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda!” (Include Women in the Agenda).