APEC iconograph celebrates women entrepreneurs

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 last Sept. 16 at the upper lobby of the Philippine International Convention Center, featured 16 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.

Multi-awarded fabric exporter and community leader Leonarda Capuyan was selected among the world’s women icons, and was featured in the Iconograph

The exhibit was on display up to Sept. 18 exclusively to the attendees of the APEC WE 2015 Fora.