Global Women’s Trade Pre-Summit Sparks Cross-Border Partnerships and Collaboration
“With women-led enterprises and international trade collaboration gaining momentum, the pre-summit B2B session provided a dynamic platform to explore emerging opportunities and strengthen cross-border business ties.”
The Global Women’s Trade Pre-Summit B2B Meetings, hosted by All India Association of Industries (AIAI) in collaboration with the World Trade Centre Mumbai on 3rd October 2025, served as an invaluable platform for fostering international trade connections. The programme brought together business leaders and trade representatives from 12 countries, with over 60 delegates across the globe. This facilitated meaningful interactions, knowledge sharing, and the exploration of new partnerships.
Ms. Priya Pansare, Director, Trade and Investment Promotion at WTC Mumbai, Dr. Daphne Pillai, Chairperson of the India Chapter of the International Women’s Federation of Commerce and Industry (IWFCI) and Management Board Member, Pillai Group of Institutions, Dr. Vijay Kalantri, President – AIAI and Chairman WTC Mumbai, Ms. Diana Abruzzi, Founder and International Chairperson of IWFCI
The session featured Dr. Daphne Pillai, Chairperson of the India Chapter of the International Women’s Federation of Commerce and Industry (IWFCI) and Management Board Member, Pillai Group of Institutions, as the Guest of Honour. She shared her perspectives on women’s leadership in global trade, highlighting the potential for new partnerships to drive growth across sectors and countries. “This Pre-Summit Meeting fosters partnerships and friendships that drive growth, innovation, and collaboration across sectors and countries.”
Ms. Diana Abruzzi, Founder and International Chairperson of IWFCI addressing the event.
Ms. Diana Abruzzi, Founder and International Chairperson of IWFCI, served as the Chief Guest and outlined her vision for advancing international business collaboration. She emphasized that IWFCI is a global platform promoting women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and international business collaboration. “An idea can be more powerful than an army. Today, IWFCI has 14 international chapters, providing a platform for women to become leaders, thinkers, and innovators. As the world transforms, women must upskill, adapt to technology, and seize opportunities, and IWFCI is committed to facilitating, opening trade routes and creating chapters across the globe.” Encouraging Mumbai’s women entrepreneurs, she concluded, “This is your moment, step forward, showcase your capabilities, build business, and let your impact be felt.”
Dr. Vijay Kalantri, President – AIAI and Chairman WTC Mumbai, highlighted the importance of international engagement for Indian enterprises. “Women balance multiple roles, yet their discipline, sincerity, and focus allow them to excel in every domain. India is honoured to have a woman as President, and globally many leading multinationals have women CEOs. Over the last 50 years, India has empowered women with increasing participation across trade, industry, education, and social services. However, women’s participation in trade-related services remains low, with fewer than 5% engaged formally. Women-oriented financial institutions and tools should be encouraged to support this growth of women in trade and commerce.”
Ms. Priya Pansare, Director, Trade and Investment Promotion at WTC Mumbai, underscored WTC Mumbai’s ongoing initiatives to strengthen global trade linkages. “Trade is more than just commerce, it fosters culture and entrepreneurship, uniting diverse segments of society.”
The event concluded with dynamic B2B Speed Networking, where participants actively connected with international delegates across multiple sectors, creating pathways for future collaboration. The session reinforced the importance of international networking and collaboration in expanding business horizons and creating sustainable trade opportunities for women-led enterprises.