(Washington D.C.) On August 22, 2024, thousands of businesses will gather at the National Black Business Conference (NBBC) for the first time in history aligned for a unified Black business agenda. This international task force includes the National Alliance for Black Business (NABB), the National Business League (NBL), and the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) in partnership with the World Conference of Mayors (WCM) and the Historic Black Towns and Settlements Alliance (HBTSA), collectively represents 250,000 Black-owned businesses. The conference will be supported by international leaders and feature keynote speaker President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, 26th President of Liberia, Republic of Liberia. 

To advance the agenda of this August international body, the theme, “We are Together“ is representative of the conference as global leaders and businesses will unveil, the Connecting One Million Women in Trade (CWT) Initiative presented by Blueprint. This private sector initiative is designed to empower one million women entrepreneurs to succeed in international trade in Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, and beyond. Globally, the initiative aims to increase the number of women-owned businesses that trade from 25% to 40% within a 3–5-year framework. NBCC and CWT will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to concretize their commitment to the success of the Initiative. "I want to congratulate Blueprint for developing the CWT Initiative. The trade issues to be addressed by this process in the context of support, infrastructure, finance, technology, and more has the potential to yield catalytic changes for Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean" P.J. Patterson, former Prime Minister, Jamaica and Statesman-In-Residence at the PJ Patterson Institute. 

For the next 12-14 months, the CWT global task force will launch a community-building program that engages key stakeholders. CWT will serve as a clearinghouse ecosystem for grassroots-to-grass tops incorporating all necessary networks and resources for women in trade to grow in core areas, (1) women ready to trade globally, (2) women preparing to trade globally, and (3) institutions that support women in trade. These groups and individuals will form a strategic alliance to expand opportunities and enhance the capacity for women who trade, breaking down barriers for all women to connect and collaborate for trade. 

CWT programming will provide a platform for turnkey solutions for collaboration through think tank engagement, knowledge sharing, resource exchange, training, capacity building, capital development, access to emerging technologies (especially artificial intelligence), new markets, and more while breaking down barriers for all women to connect and collaborate for trade. 

Through CWT, we will focus on scaling businesses, identifying sources of capital for women entrepreneurs, and preparing women entrepreneurs in trade for growth by creating a feeder pipeline to roll women up to the next level of business development, business engagement, and association membership throughout the Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean. Some of our supportive partners are the United Nations Headquarters Africa Division, the African Union Diplomatic Mission, Washington D.C. The George Washington University, the Ronald Reagan Trade Center, and others. 

"As President and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, I am honored to stand alongside global leaders in this groundbreaking initiative. Connecting One Million Women in Trade is not just about increasing numbers: it is about unlocking women entrepreneurs' potential across the globe. By breaking down barriers and providing access to vital resources, we are paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous global economy. This initiative will empower women to participate in international trade and thrive as leaders in the industry", said Charles DeBow. 

In April 2024, CWT presented its first series, “The Future of Finance & Trade in Africa 1.0,” in partnership with The George Washington University and the World Bank Group in Washington D.C. The event marked a pivotal moment in addressing the continent's financial and trade landscapes. The conference featured an array of speakers such as Her Excellency, Chief Jewel Taylor, Former Vice President of Liberia, and Secretary-General of the African First Ladies Peace Mission, who delivered a greeting and remarks from former Ghanaian President, H.E. John Mahama. Her Excellency Chief Jewel Taylor further emphasized the priorities of women in trade and the importance of the CWT initiative. 

During the program, the Foreign Service Officer for the Africa Bureau in the U.S. Department of State, Kara Babrowski, convened a group of leaders to address policies and initiatives that will transform Africa’s financial systems. The event included Ministers of Finance, notable World Bank figures, and Central Bank Governors. 

According to the African Union Ambassador to the U.S., H.E. Hilda Suka-Mafudze, "Trade is a critical engine for economic development for women. It will open new markets and drive innovation. The CWT initiative aims to harness trade power to foster economic empowerment and sustainable development for women entrepreneurs globally." 

“As a woman in business, I have had the opportunity to work in Africa, The Caribbean, and the Americas in various capacities with respective stakeholders thus serving as the impetus for this initiative. Before launching this initiative, a significant amount of time was spent doing market analysis. I concluded that there is a growing need to bridge the gap as we often operate in silos and in silence. Understanding that it takes a village to collaborate for growth and sustainable impact, we aim to further conversations, challenge the stakeholders, and catalyze women in trade to actualize the success of CWT”, Dr. Ky Dele, Principal, Blueprint.