Empowering Filipina Entrepreneurs: WTO Mission Hosts Talk on Trade Challenges and Opportunities
GENEVA 24 MArch 2025 – To celebrate 2025 National Women’s Month, the Philippine Mission to the WTO hosted a talk on 20 March on the challenges and opportunities for global Filipina entrepreneurs, in line with the theme “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas.”
Ms. Ildeme Mahinay Koch, CEO of Zurich-based De Moi, shared her journey as a Filipina entrepreneur in Switzerland, highlighting trade policy challenges, market access issues, and opportunities for collaboration and growth. She stressed the need to equip women entrepreneurs with proper tools to understand trade agreements and policies, and learn from best practices through training and networking opportunities. Minister and Deputy Permanent Representative Gabriel Bautista commended Ms. Koch for her “most insightful, valuable and grounded perspectives” and noted that the WTO Secretariat has identified the first beneficiaries for the WTO Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund. The Deputy Permanent Representative noted that support for women entrepreneurs is an important advocacy for the Philippine government and looked towards future collaboration including involvement in the WEIDE Fund.
Key insights discussed included: 1) free trade agreements (FTAs), like the EFTA-Philippines FTA boost businesses but regulatory inconsistencies hinder regional expansion, such as in ASEAN; 2) understanding trade regulations and adapting to customs policies can be challenging for foreign entrepreneurs; and 3) success in global trade requires trusted distributors, compliance with regulations, and support from chambers of commerce.
Ms. Koch emphasized that exporting Philippine products made from local inputs such as for the cosmetics sector, has been challenging for small players due to their difficulties securing globally recognized certification of standards and in navigating complex licensing processes. She stressed the need for better mentorship, funding, policy advocacy for gender-inclusive trade, and export readiness. She urged for the streamlining of regulations in ASEAN, implementation of digital approval systems, and more exposure for women entrepreneurs on international standards to strengthen the region as a global trade powerhouse.
A Cebuana, Ms. Koch has been recognized for her commitment to ethical entrepreneurship, and was named one of the Most Influential Filipinas in the World by Foundation for Filipina Women’ Network (FWN) in 2019. A dedicated author, she wrote two books which inspire women to embrace their strength and potential. END
Personnel of the Philippine Missions in Geneva with Ms. Ildeme Mahinay Koch
Ms. Koch with First Secretary Oliver C. Delfin, GAD Focal Person of the Philippine Mission to the WTO
For more information, visit https://www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHinGeneva/ or https://www.instagram.com/phingeneva/.