THE World Trade Organization’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) will take place from February 26 to 29 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), where ministers from across the world will attend to review the functioning of the multilateral trading system and to take action on the future work of the WTO.

The International Trade Center’s SheTrades will take place in Abu Dhabi concurrently. Established in 2015, the SheTrades conference aims to create the right conditions and capacities for women to thrive in global trade.

Michele Tulloch, chief executive officer of CAMKO Manufacturing Co Ltd, is a member and is currently undergoing mentorship with the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (Wipo’s) pilot programme for Latin America and the Caribbean. She has been awarded full sponsorship to the UAE conference as a participant from applicants totalling 700, shortlisted to 36 sponsored attendees, and is the only Jamaican.

The conference will be chaired by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s minister of state for foreign trade. Invitations were sent to various organisations, one being Caribbean Women in Trade (CWIT).

‘SheTraders’ will undergo masterclasses with Visa, interact with business associates and ministers, and experience a fireplace dinner in the desert.