The following is a cross-post from the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration

When women trade, women succeed economically. With 95 percent of world consumers and 80 percent of world purchasing power outside of the United States, international trade is an untapped resource for women-owned businesses. Women-owned companies that trade and export earn more, create more jobs, stay in business longer and are more resilient to financial shocks than those relying exclusively on domestic markets. Like closing the wage gap and breaking the glass ceiling, encouraging women business owners and entrepreneurs to trade across borders is key to achieving economic equality for women.

Women-owned businesses and women entrepreneurs often face barriers to growth based on gender discrimination. Investors are less likely to bet on businesses owned by women, particularly those owned by women of color. Encouraging more women-owned businesses to trade has massive potential to grow the U.S. economy. More than 20 percent of employer businesses in the U.S. are owned by women, a figure critical to U.S. GDP. If women are to achieve economic parity, exporting is a proven strategy for success.

In honor of Women’s History Month, ITA’s U.S. Commercial Service and TheWMarketplace, a platform hosting women entrepreneurs and business owners to sell, network, and develop their businesses, are launching a four-part webinar series titled “Why Export? Stories from Women Who Went Global” on March 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th. The webinars will feature informal conversations with successful women business owners in the U.S. about their experiences exporting and will train women on skills essential to exporting, from digital marketing and e-commerce to navigating overseas markets  Anyone can sign up for the free, virtual program.

When women-owned businesses export, it leads to better bottom lines and expanded economic growth at home. Supporting women business owners is even more important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which dramatically impacted the ability of women to compete economically. Throughout this month, the U.S. Commercial Service and TheWMarketplace hope to empower women by giving them the tools they need to pursue global growth opportunities. Empowering women to transform their businesses and their economic futures through exporting is an important step towards closing the economic gender gap, ensuring that women excel in business and entrepreneurship.