The launch of the program happened online. Image: Submitted
Women in Business New Brunswick (WBNB) has launched an international twinning pilot program with the Association of German Women Entrepreneurs (VdU).
The program aims to create lasting relationships between women entrepreneurs from New Brunswick and Germany who are in similar industries. The two companies would be of comparable size and stages.
“In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to build bridges across continents and form strong alliances. With this project, we would like to show our female entrepreneurs the opportunities that the [Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement] offers and open up new perspectives,” said Dr. Marie-Claire Weinski, VdU Project Leader, in a release.
The program includes at least one 60-to 90-minute meeting per month during which the matched entrepreneurs can exchange best practices, market and industry information, cultural differences and local functioning. They can also share key contacts, make connections and help each other enter local markets. It also includes a year’s worth of support from the WBNB and VdU.
The Canadian embassy in Germany said the move should generate new ideas to boost bilateral trade.
‘’We are delighted to see the open-mindedness, enthusiasm and commitment of the Canadian and German candidates for this project,’’ said Claire Ephestion, WBNB’s development officer for export and international trade, in the release.
“We hope that this exchange program will create business opportunities and lead to rich exchanges, friendships and lasting partnerships. These women entrepreneurs have clearly understood that network is a true asset, the real key to success in business.”
WBNB was founded in 2002 to help current and aspiring women entrepreneurs with advice and services. It has a team of development officers who offer bilingual support in rural and urban areas. It also provides business counselling to indigenous women entrepreneurs across New Brunswick and a partnership program for women entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada.
The VdU, founded in 1954, is an organization that motivates, assists, and supports women entrepreneurs while facilitating a networking environment to help them to further their small and medium-sized businesses. It represents more than 1,800 businesswomen who account for annual sales of EUR 85 billion and 500,000 workers in Germany.
A version of this story was published in Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
