Outstanding women entrepreneurs from across the Pacific and Timor-Leste are among 22 high-potential participants selected for the prestigious UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) eTrade for Women Masterclass, organised with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and held from 18–21 November in Manila. The programme is designed to equip women-led businesses with practical digital skills to strengthen their ventures and unlock new trade opportunities within and beyond the Blue Pacific.
The four-day Masterclass focuses on core areas essential for modern business growth, including building strong brands and effective online marketing, using customer insights to guide decision-making, scaling businesses on limited budgets, navigating cross-border trade, learning from successful digital companies, understanding intellectual property, and cultivating leadership and peer support networks across the region.
This year’s cohort from the Pacific and Timor-Leste includes:
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Marianna Ellingson (PNG) – AIDAN Limited
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Shenal Harakh (Fiji) – Sunset Studio
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Naheeda Maqbool (Fiji) – ZONAH UNITED
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Flora Brytes (Timor-Leste) – TimorGetaway
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Irene Abbock (Vanuatu) – Tidy Haus Cleaners & Babysitting Service
Fijian participant Naheeda Maqbool said the Masterclass provided a profound learning experience. “Representing Fiji at the UNCTAD eTrade for Women Masterclass in Manila was a transformative experience. It elevated Fiji’s presence on an international platform and strengthened my mission to advance agriculture trade and community-driven exports. The knowledge, digital tools, and powerful network of remarkable women leaders from across Asia have opened new pathways for collaboration, visibility, and growth—not just for me, but for the all rural women farmers of Fiji who are supported under ZONAH UNITED whose products and dreams I carry with me.”
These entrepreneurs are already driving positive change in their communities and industries. Their participation is supported by UNCTAD, Australia, and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).
PIFS Acting Director of Programmes and Initiatives Denton Rarawa said, “The Masterclass complements our PIFS E-Biz Plus Program, through initiatives like these, the Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap continue to advance practical pathways to bridge gender gaps in digital trade, ensuring Pacific women are active and influential contributors to the Blue Pacific’s growing trade landscape as envisioned in the 2050 Strategy.”
The eTrade for Women initiative, led by UNCTAD, empowers women digital entrepreneurs in developing and least developed countries through leadership training, peer learning, and access to global e-commerce networks.
