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India
Watch the highlight video for the WBEP here.
On May 25, 2018, twenty Indian women entrepreneurs gathered at the Procter & Gamble (P&G) Campus in Mumbai to receive certificates and celebrate their graduation from the inaugural Women Businesses Empowerment Program (WBEP). As a part of P&G’s longstanding commitment to economic inclusion around the globe, the WBEP serves as a key milestone after the company’s recent announcement to source $30 million USD from women-owned business across India over the next three years.
“We want to create a world free of gender bias,’ says P&G Purchasing Director for India and the Middle East, Joelle Zilliox. “Our focus is creating equal economic opportunity for women. Companies buying from minorities and women are more successful and build better communities.” WEConnect International was the implementing partner for the WBEP, working with its corporate member P&G to build the capacity of women-owned businesses in India that have the potential to grow and supply to P&G globally. In fact, two graduates from the first cohort have already secured new business opportunities with P&G India.
EY, Tata Chemicals, Aditya Birla and Viacom also contributed to the WBEP program by facilitating workshops or providing participants with the opportunity to engage with their business networks. The month-long training covered topics ranging from marketing, quality control, legal compliances, human resource management and operations growth.
“WEConnect International is excited to have a partner like P&G who is as committed to women’s economic empowerment as we are,” says CEO and Co-Founder of WEConnect International, Elizabeth Vazquez.
Over the last 18 months, WEConnect International and P&G have partnered together to implement capacity building programs for women business owners in China, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. These programs aim to empower women business owners to grow and scale their business by creating meaningful opportunities to educate, train, and connect with corporate buyers and other women-owned businesses. The WBEP also provides women entrepreneurs with access to business opportunities with P&G and its partners. Through the WBEP, 25% of participants have secured new business opportunities with P&G and its partners.
These initiatives to support women entrepreneurs is built on P&G and WEConnect International’s commitment to promote greater gender equality in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. P&G and WEConnect International will continue to work together to implement similar programs in other key markets throughout the year.
