$400 MILLION COMMITMENT TO NEW SPEND WITH WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES ANNOUNCED

WEConnect International was in New York City on Saturday to announce a $400 million commitment from corporate members to buy more from women-owned businesses over the next 3 years.

“I’m proud to stand with Accenture, Citi, EY and Procter & Gamble, who are collectively pledging $400 million to buy from women-owned businesses over the next three years, especially in developing countries.  This commitment, together with corporate commitments made over the last 12 months on the Global Citizen stage, represents a total of $1 billion in spend with women,” said WEConnect International’s CEO, Elizabeth A. Vazquez, in front of 65,000 people at the Global Citizen Festival and millions more tuning in online and on TV.

Karen Lutz, the Global Leader at EY Beacon Institute and Women. Fast forward, said, “By working with WEConnect International, EY directly supports women-owned businesses to create significant impact. We look forward to welcoming even more women-owned businesses into our supplier network and hope to see more of these businesses prosper and grow inclusively.”

Two of WEConnect International’s certified women-owned businesses also joined them onstage to speak briefly about their companies. Vimala Ariyan, from SAIL in South Africa says, “Now is the time for women business owners to have equal opportunities to access markets and create urgently needed jobs in Africa and beyond.” Madelaine Artavia, from Arquenz Arcitectura in Costa Rica said, “I want women entrepreneurs to fight for their ideas and to reach their full potential.” Both have benefited from the support WEConnect International provides to its certified women-owned businesses.

WEConnect International helps women-owned businesses succeed in global value chains. It identifies, educates, registers, and certifies women’s business enterprises based outside of the U.S. that are at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more women, and then connects them with qualified member buyers.

Global Citizen is an organization that is a platform that allows anyone to learn about issues, take action on what matters most, and join a community committed to social change, with the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030.