by R. Christene King
Major
limitations to the economic empowerment of women in the Caribbean, including Jamaica, are
limited access to global markets and networks.
WEConnect
International provides a solution to these challenges by connecting women to
global markets, providing the resources, tools and certification needed to
access these markets and win contracts, and connect women to a global network
of other women in business.
Based
in Washington, D.C.,
WEConnect International has since 2009 provided certification, resources,
mentoring and peer/corporate connections to businesses based outside the United States
that are at least 51 per cent owned, managed and controlled by one or more
women.
WEConnect
Jamaica will be launched in Jamaica
in the first quarter of 2013, and will provide a unique opportunity for
Jamaican women to access global markets for their goods and services.
Spearheaded by local
entrepreneurs, Yaneek Page and Ethnie Miller-Simpson, the partnership
arose from their participation at the Caribbean Women Entrepreneurs Forum,
which took place in Washington
DC in March 2012 and was coordinated
by the US Department of State.
Page and
Miller-Simpson were introduced to WEConnect International during the forum and
later convinced Elizabeth Vazquez, WEConnect CEO and co-founder, to expand the organization to the Caribbean
region, starting with Jamaica.
Though the formal launch of
WEConnect Jamaica
will take place in the first quarter of 2013, the partnership agreement has
already been executed and interested women may begin self registering now at http://www.weconnectinternational.org/join-our-network/women-business-owners-get-self-registered
WEConnect International is the first
organization to certify and register women-owned businesses in developed and
emerging markets.
“WEConnect International is committed to working with our
partners to empower women business owners in Jamaica,” said WEConnect CEO and co-founder
Elizabeth Vazquez, “because if we expect women to play a more powerful role in
building sustainable economies, women entrepreneurs must find success in larger
markets.”
The
WEConnect International network has expanded worldwide to include partners in Canada, UK,
Australia, China, India
and Peru,
where women business owners have been afforded the resources and networks
required to successfully compete on an international basis.
WEConnect
corporate members include Coca Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Scotiabank, IBM,
HP, Apple, RBC, RIM, Microsoft, Walmart, Ernst & Young, Marriott,
Accenture, Mastercard and many others.
__________________________________________________________
Contact: Yaneek Page,
Managing Director, Future Services International Ltd
Tel: (876) 960-9554, (876)
906-9553 Cel: (876) 818-0879
E-mail:
yaneek.page@futureservicesja.com
Ethnie Miller Simpson, CEO,
Zinergy International
Tel.: (876) 906-6632; (876)
381-5844
R Christene King
Journalist, editor,
publisher
Pure Class
6 Evans Avenue
Kingston 8
Tel: +1876-969-6341 (o)
+1876-361-0331
(c)
Email: chrisking@flowja.com
August 31, 2012
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