1. Globalizing Opportunities
WeConnect International and Electric Company, Pfizer Inc., United Technologies
By Elizabeth A. Vazquez Corporation, Verizon, and Walmart Stores Inc.
WEConnect also collaborates with a range of global
Globally, women own between 32 percent and 39 per- partners to deliver education and training to improve
cent of all private businesses in the formal economy [busi- market access for women. Those organizations are: The
nesses that are incorporated], but women do 66 percent World Bank Group, the United Nations, U.S. State De-
of the world’s work, receive 10 percent of the income, and
own 1 percent of the property, according to UN Women.
If women are to play a more powerful role in building
strong communities and sustainable economies, women
entrepreneurs need clear incentives to move from the
informal sector to the formal sector and they need ac-
cess to the knowledge and the networks that can help
develop their capacity to grow their businesses, create
wealth, and deliver jobs.
Since 2009, the Women’s Business Enterprise
National Council (WBENC) and WEConnect
International have worked together to deliver an
international certification standard for woman-
owned business enterprises. WBENC certifies busi-
nesses that are incorporated in the United States and
WEConnect International certifies those that are
incorporated outside the U.S. The organizations also
work together to foster opportunities for women busi-
ness owners to engage in cross-border trade.
WEConnect is a global non-profit organization that
facilitates sustainable economic growth by increasing
opportunities for woman-owned businesses to succeed in partment, U.S. Agency for International Development,
global value chains. WEConnect educates, trains, registers, Vital Voices La Pietra Coalition, BPW International,
and certifies women’s business enterprises that are at least Women Presidents’ Organization, and many other national
51 percent owned, managed, and controlled by one or more business and trade support institutions and government
women. WEConnect is currently active in Canada, Chile, agencies in target markets.
China, India, Peru, and Europe. WEConnect also helps corporations diversify their
The WEConnect network represents over US$700 supplier base to reflect their markets, increase shareholder
billion in annual purchasing power, and its corporate value, and enhance competitive advantage. Education,
members are true pioneers in global supplier develop- training, registration and certification of woman-owned
ment and inclusion. They are: Accenture, Alcatel-Lucent, businesses are key to increasing local and global pro-
AT&T, The Boeing Company, Cisco Systems Inc., Citi- curement opportunities for women. When women start
bank, Cummins Inc., Dun & Bradstreet, Ernst & Young, and grow businesses, they create jobs, contribute to the
ExxonMobil Corporation, Goldman Sachs, Hewlett- economy, and improve communities.
Packard Company, IBM, Intel, Manpower Inc., Marriott WEConnect and the International Trade Centre
International, Microsoft, Motorola Solutions, Pacific Gas (ITC), which is the joint agency of the United Nations
and the World Trade Organization, are collaborating to
promote the Global Platform for Action on Sourcing
Upcoming International Events from Women Vendors. The aim is to increase the share
November 7-9, WEConnect Canada Conference, of corporate, government, and institutional procurement
Toronto, Canada. secured by women vendors for the ultimate purpose of
November 17, WEConnect International Member Meeting,
bringing greater economic benefit to women and their
Alexandria, Virginia, USA.
communities.
For more information on these events and the Qualified buyers and sellers met recently in Chongq-
Global Platform for Action, please visit: ing at the 2011 Women Vendors Exhibition and Forum
http://www.intracen.org/projects/women-and-trade/ in China. This was the first of 10 annual events that the

2. for Women and Minorities
Global Platform for Action will NMSDC is proud of the accomplishments of its
host with the ITC, in different international affiliates and is particularly pleased with
countries each year. the major endeavours and milestones reached by the
Elizabeth A. Vazquez is the CEO Aus tralian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council
and co-founder of WEConnect In- (AIMSC).
ternational, based in Washington, AIMSC had a very successful year in 2010, and the
D.C. For more information about first half of 2011 is looking equally promising. The
the organization, please visit: www. organization has built such momentum because the
WEConnectInternational.org Australian government is fully supportive and closely
Elizabeth Vazquez tied to it.
Since former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s 2008
speech apologizing to the Australian aboriginal population
for the wrongs of the past, the government has provided
NMSDC’s Global-Link continued support for aboriginal development; is taking
By Eric J. Vicioso steps toward changing old policies to better accommodate
aboriginal success; and is applying a policy of giving a
The National Minority Supplier Diversity Council’s hand up, not a hand out, to diminish the welfare mental-
(NMSDC) Global-Link is growing stronger every day. ity and to bring true richness and economic vitality to the
It is now in five countries (Australia, Canada, China, the aboriginal population.
United Kingdom and South Af- In little over 18 months of operation, AIMSC has facili-
rica). Joset Wright, president of the tated almost $9 million in contracts, and $4.5 million in
NMSDC, is very supportive of this transactions between its members and certified suppliers.
international program and she has In April, the Minister of Finance and Deregulation, Penny
participated in events sponsored Wong, and Minister for Indigenous Employment and
by the Australian, Canadian, and Economic Development, Mark Arbib approved the first
Chinese councils, and is preparing indigenous training, employment, and supplier plan under
to join an early October business the Gillard Government’s [so named for Prime Minister
matchmaking mission to South Julia Gillard] enhanced indigenous opportunities policy
Africa. In addition, she is looking (IPO). The IPO not only supports the work of AIMSC,
Joset B. Wright
into the possibility of expanding but also works to close the gap. AIMSC has also firmed up
NMSDC’s support for its international affiliates and their plans for its second national conference, business oppor-
certified suppliers, and has inserted this interest into the tunity fair and gala dinner in April, 2012. The NMSDC
NMSDC’s strategic planning discussions. is already preparing to lead a business mission to Australia
and plans to participate in all of AIMSC’s events.
Upcoming International Events AIMSC now has 111 members and 81 certified
suppliers, with more members than
October 3—CAMSC’s Awards Dinner Gala, Toronto,
any of the other four NMSDC inter-
Canada, www.camsc.ca
national affiliates, and second only to
October 8-15—NMSDC Business Opportunity Matchmak-
ing Mission, Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa.
the Canadian Aboriginal and Minor-
ity Supplier Council in the number of
April 2-3, 2012—Connect 2012 AIMSC Conference
and Business Opportunity Fair, Sydney, Australia.
certified minority suppliers. ◆
www.aimsc.org.au
October 11, 2012—MSDUK 2012 Conference,
Eric J. Vicioso is the director of inter-
Business Opportunity Fair, and Business Awards Dinner, national programs for the NMSDC. For
Grange Tower Bridge Hotel, London, United Kingdom. more information about the Global-Link program visit www.
www.msduk.org.uk nmsdc.org or about AIMSC at www.aimsc.org.au.
Reprinted with permission from the September/October 2011 issue of
Minority Business Entrepreneur
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