The Global Women’s Trade Pre-Summit B2B Meetings, organised by the World Trade Centre Mumbai in partnership with the All-India Association of Industries (AIAI), successfully provided a platform for fostering international trade collaboration on 3rd October 2025. The event brought together over 60 delegates from 12 countries, enabling meaningful dialogue, knowledge sharing, and the exploration of new business partnerships across borders.
The programme featured prominent leaders in women-led enterprises and international trade. Dr. Daphne Pillai, Chairperson of the India Chapter of the International Women’s Federation of Commerce and Industry (IWFCI) and Management Board Member of the Pillai Group of Institutions, was the Guest of Honour. She highlighted the critical role of women in global trade, emphasizing how cross-border partnerships can drive growth, innovation, and collaboration across industries and nations. Dr. Pillai remarked that the pre-summit fostered both professional relationships and friendships that strengthen business networks globally.
Ms. Diana Abruzzi, Founder and International Chairperson of IWFCI, served as the Chief Guest. She outlined IWFCI’s vision for empowering women through international business collaboration. Noting the federation’s expansion to 14 international chapters, she emphasized the importance of women adapting to technological advancements, upskilling, and seizing emerging opportunities in global trade. She encouraged women entrepreneurs in Mumbai to step forward, showcase their capabilities, and leverage the platform to make a tangible impact in business and industry.
Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman and President of WTC Mumbai and AIAI, highlighted the significance of women’s engagement in international trade. He noted that although women have achieved notable participation across trade, industry, education, and social services in India over the last five decades, their representation in trade-related services remains under 5%. He called for more women-oriented financial tools and institutions to facilitate their growth in commerce and international trade.
Ms. Priya Pansare, Director of Trade and Investment Promotion at WTC Mumbai, reinforced the organisation’s initiatives to strengthen global trade linkages. She underscored that trade not only drives commerce but also unites diverse communities and fosters entrepreneurship.
The pre-summit concluded with an energetic B2B Speed Networking session, enabling participants to engage directly with international delegates from multiple sectors. The interactions created pathways for future collaboration, highlighting the pivotal role of international networking in expanding business opportunities for women-led enterprises and promoting sustainable trade growth.
