I had the pleasure of accompanying my colleagues and Minister of Small Business, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, to announce the launch of the Maïa Inclusive Growth Project.

This project, created by the Réseau des Femmes d'affaires du Québec (RFAQ), is supported by $3.7 million in funding from the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund.

A more inclusive economy is a stronger economy. That’s why our government is dedicated to concrete measures that support women entrepreneurs and build an economy that works for all Canadians.

The Maïa project will focus on diversifying the supply chain to help women entrepreneurs across Canada secure contracts with major buyers. To accomplish this, the RFAQ will conduct awareness campaigns and offer training opportunities to women entrepreneurs.

Support for women entrepreneurs will include:

• raising awareness among 5000 women entrepreneurs across Canada about the importance of accessing new markets;
• training and supporting 750 women entrepreneurs, including 200 from diverse backgrounds, to successfully integrate into the supply chains of large corporations; and
• facilitating the certification of women-owned businesses by working with organizations such as the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council and the Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council of Canada.

This initiative is part of the historic investments that our government has made since 2015 to support women!

Learn more about this launch here : https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/2024-03-27/plateforme-d-affaires-maia/coup-de-pouce-pour-l-entrepreneuriat-feminin.php