MI PROMOTES GENDER EQUALITY THROUGH TRADE KNOWLEDGE PLATFORM

Trade and Investment Facilitation
In continued efforts to broaden the competitive participation of women in international trade, Mekong Institute (MI) and the Trade Facilitation Office Canada held a multi-stakeholder consultation workshop to introduce the merits of the Women in Trade (WIT) Knowledge Platform project on April 29, 2021 via digital channel.

By widening access to trade information, equal access to business and employment opportunities will be made available to help bridge the gender gap in Asia

Designed as a three-year project that is funded by the International Development Research Centre, the knowledge platform will make available gender-disaggregated sector-specific trade and employment data to help women-led small- and medium-sized enterprises from developing countries tap international trade opportunities, particularly in the Canadian market.  

Mr. Dutta, who facilitated the workshop discussion, fielded various perspectives as 34 representatives from government agencies, chambers of commerce, business associations, export promotion agencies, and research institutions in Cambodia and Vietnam highlighted priority information and initiatives required to expand women’s access to skills, education, and resources for stronger policy systems and equitable trade representation.

This was followed by a session with Ms. Hao Wen, MI Program Coordinator, who presented survey questions for the participants’ feedback and validation. She then detailed the project’s partnership mechanism to ensure continued collaboration and exchange of inputs among stakeholders.

The research findings will be presented in a series of consultation and dissemination activities with officials from government, trade, research, and policy institutions, as well as the private sector, across pilot project countries in Africa and Asia, as well as Canada. The final data will then be inputted into the WIT Knowledge Platform to promote research studies, policies, and best practices that will support women equality in global trade.

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.