Brazil Boosts Women-Led Business Growth in International Trade with New Initiatives

The Brazilian Agency for the Promotion of Exports and Investments (ApexBrasil) is marking three years of its Women and International Business (MNI) program with a significant event in Brasília on March 19-20. The event, titled 'Women and International Business: Insertion, Empowerment, and Impact,' celebrates the program's success in expanding women-led companies engaged in foreign trade from around 1,000 to more than 5,200 businesses. This milestone underlines ApexBrasil's commitment to gender equity and enhancing female participation in Brazilian exports.

The celebration event will feature discussions on digital transformation, leadership, mentoring, and international expansion. ApexBrasil's Business Director, Ana Paula Repezza, alongside other public sector authorities and international organizations, will highlight the strategic collaborations underpinning this initiative. The program will also unveil its plans for the 2026-2031 cycle, including the establishment of the MNI Action Plan and the formation of an Advisory Committee involving key institutions such as MDIC, the Ministry of Women, SEBRAE, CNI, Banco do Brasil, and UN Women. Inspirational stories from women entrepreneurs across Brazil will showcase their experiences in internationalizing their businesses, emphasizing the potential of female-led enterprises.

Complementing these efforts, the We Forum’s Business Round held on March 5 in Brasília has projected to generate US$414,000 in business within the next 12 months. Organized by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) in partnership with SEBRAE-DF and ApexBrasil, this initiative connected 88 Brazilian suppliers with 18 international buyers across sectors like food and beverage, fashion, and cosmetics. This resulted in 70 business meetings facilitated by the Inter-American Development Bank’s matchmaking platform. Tatiana Farah, CNI's Commercial Promotion Manager, highlighted the event’s importance in creating immediate commercial opportunities and boosting the global presence of women-led companies. The We Forum also serves as a platform to discuss female leadership in business and aligns with the BRICS Business Alliance’s emphasis on women's roles in economic growth.

Together, these initiatives highlight Brazil's growing commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and expanding their access to international markets through strategic partnerships, mentorship, and practical business opportunities. They reinforce efforts to integrate women into key economic sectors such as the creative economy and audiovisual industries, supported by projects focusing on training, certification, diversity, and inclusion.

The current momentum built by ApexBrasil’s program and the We Forum's business roundtables indicates strong prospects for enhancing the competitiveness and international reach of Brazil's women-led businesses in the coming years.