CITEM’s APEC iconograph hints at women’s $1-T economic impact

The export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry has organized an exceptionally curated iconography celebrating the stories of women leaders who have contributed significantly to the development of their economies in the Asia Pacific Region.

The Iconograph, set by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and unveiled yesterday (Sept. 16) at the upper lobby of the Philippine International Convention Center, featured sixteen extraordinary women from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries for helping lead their communities to economic sustainability.

The Iconograph bolstered recent findings about the increasing role of women in economic development, locally and globally.

A Harvard Business Review’s online report cited women-owned entities as representing around 37 percent of global enterprises.

The report included data gathered by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor showing a total of 224 million women in business contributing to the global economy. Yet, the data covered only 67 of the 188 WB-recognized countries.

The women-owned businesses were expected to contribute $1 trillion to the gross domestic product in emerging economies alone and in terms of merely female employment. This projection, however, was conditioned on narrowing the gap between the male and the female in labor participation, to which the women-owned entities could immensely contribute.

Although women are described to be more innovative in product development and more reliable in handling their financial obligations than males, female entrepreneurs also reportedly need an aggregate $1 trillion in credit facility to grow their businesses.

“For these financially-empowered female leaders who deserve the best for all their hard work, determination and vision, we collaborated with the APEC delegates to identify the women icons from APEC’s 21 economies who will best personify such virtues and achievements,” says CITEM’s Executive director Rosvi C. Gaetos.

At the same time, CITEM transformed the PICC’s main lobby into LUXE Philippines, featuring the Philippines’ finest home, fashion and food exports,” Gaetos pointed out.

Luxe highlights a retail merchandise one-stop-shop, presenting exclusive luxurious design collections. It also showcases a curated exhibition led by the top purveyors of Philippine design -- Budji Layug, Josie Natori, Kenneth Cobonpue and Bea Valdez.

“We have to showcase our finest export products to match the discerning taste of these topnotch female entrepreneurs from all over the world, specifically the participants in the APEC WE (Women and the Economy) 2015 Fora” Gaetos stressed.

The selection of companies focused on the participants of CITEM’s signature events Manila FAME and IFEX Philippines, all having attained significant levels of international exposure and popularity to be easily recognized by a good number of the APEC WE 2015 Fora delegates.

“Most importantly, our exhibits will showcase products that are mostly designed and crafted by Filipino women,” Gaetos said.