A coalition of international business groups has launched the Global Trade Accelerator (GTA), a digital platform designed to connect 1 million women-led enterprises to global markets. The initiative, part of the Connecting One Million Women to Trade (C1WT) program, aims to scale women’s participation in cross-border commerce and unlock new opportunities for economic growth.
Organizers estimate the platform could generate up to $900 billion in trade opportunities across Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas, and diaspora markets. GTA provides integrated tools for market access, financing, policy guidance, onboarding, and global marketplace connections, enabling women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses internationally.
The platform debuted at the GUBA Trade and Investment Conference in Barbados, attended by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados, President Dame Sandra Mason, Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and senior representatives from Mastercard and the Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Former Costa Rican Vice President H.E. Epsy Campbell Barr described the GTA as “a collaborative framework to accelerate women-led trade across the Atlantic corridors.” A follow-up forum in Accra, Ghana, convened delegates from Ghana, the United States, Liberia, Nigeria, Jamaica, and the United Kingdom. Ghana National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GNCCI) President Stéphane Abass Miezan highlighted the initiative’s role in positioning Ghana as a strategic bridge in global commerce.
“This initiative empowers women to participate confidently and competitively in international markets,” Miezan said.
The U.S.-based National Black Chamber of Commerce also introduced financing tools to help women-owned businesses prepare for cross-border investments.
C1WT founder Dr. Ky Dele emphasized that the GTA marks a shift from advocacy to actionable infrastructure.
“From Bridgetown to Accra, we are moving from symbolism to structure. GTA creates a unified system where grassroots women entrepreneurs can scale beyond borders,” she said.
A live demonstration in Accra showcased GTA features, including multilingual onboarding, digital KYC tools, workflow dashboards, and connections across 102 countries. Messages of support from Senator Ireti Kingibe and former Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, reinforced the platform’s potential to boost women-led trade globally.
By providing access to finance, market networks, and digital tools, the GTA aims to empower women entrepreneurs, create jobs, and drive economic growth across Africa and beyond.
