Empowering Jute Diversified Products (JDP) Enterprises for Export Readiness

“Women in Trade for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth (WITISG)” is a 5-year project funded by Global Affairs Canada & ITFC (Islamic Trade Finance Corporation). The project aims to contribute to inclusive growth in the economy by increasing the percentage of women in international trade as exporters and by increasing the share of exports generated by women-led Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

As the local coordinator for the WITISG project, LightCastle Partners assisted Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada and the SME Foundation (SMEF) in empowering Jute Diversified Products (JDP) enterprises for export readiness. LightCastle Partners is the local coordinator & implementer for TFO Canada in Bangladesh for the project.

LightCastle’s role encompassed gathering applications from SMEs, screening and selection, assistance with skill development and documentation, and providing wide-ranging consultative support. As a consequence of LightCastle’s intervention, 14 Bangladeshi SMEs from the Jute Diversified Product (JDP) sector traveled to New York, USA, to participate in the New York Now 2023 (NYN 23’) Fair. This gave them the opportunity to showcase their product portfolio to key buyers in the US market, ranging from mega-retailers to boutique gift shops.

If you are interested to learn more, the infographics below will provide more in-depth information about the WITISG project and the impact of the intervention made by LightCastle.