Excellencies, members of the diplomatic corps, Government representatives, specially invited guests, women in business, ladies and gentlemen – Good evening!

What a privilege it is – to be here with you tonight, in the midst of exceptional company, and at an event that I am truly passionate about – because I believe when women come together – and when they do so across borders, nationalities, cultures, and disciplines – extraordinary things happen.

To the organisers of the Women Across Borders Business Growth Summit, thank you for creating this space. To the CEOs, founders, trade and investment leaders, entrepreneurs, women in business, fellow High Commissioners and diplomats in the room, welcome, and thank you for being here.

I want to begin with a personal journey. The path to diplomacy was not a straight road. It was met with moments of doubt, uncertainty, frustration (and it still has those moments), and the challenge of sometimes being the only woman in the room, and more often than not, the youngest. But very early I learnt that resilience is not the absence of setbacks it is the decision to continue in spite of them, and to never loose sight of your vision. And I would like to ask each of you for a moment – to consider – what is your vision – what drives you – what propels you to keep pushing – to not settle for no – to demand more – and to remain focused. What does success look like – and how do you get there? If you have all the answers to those questions – please tell me. And if you don’t, like most of us – that’s ok – because every day it is a process and one that continues to evolve. But I trust that by the end of this forum you will leave with more answers than you came with.

Representation matters. When a young woman in Grenada sees that someone who looks like her can sit at the table and not just observe it, but shape its agenda something shifts, and her sense of what is possible changes – vision is birth. That is why it is important to take every opportunity to mentor, to encourage, and to open doors wherever we can. I am standing here because of the doors that were opened – and held opened before me. Doors that gave access and lit the path towards that vision.

And one of the most powerful doors I know is trade, because trade is not merely the movement of goods and capital. It is the movement of ideas, ambition, and possibility. Trade is often described in terms of goods and services—what we export, what we import, what we produce, and what we consume. But to understand its true importance, we must look beyond transactions and tariffs, beyond balance sheets and borders. Trade is – at its heart – a bridge.

For centuries, trade routes have carried more than spices, silk, or steel. They have carried knowledge. They have spread technologies, philosophies, and ways of life. Every port, every marketplace, every partnership has been a meeting point of human potential. And that is what makes trade so powerful today. However, we cannot look at trade without speaking about investment.

Trade and investment are often spoken of as separate forces—one moving goods across borders, the other moving capital across markets. But in reality, they are deeply intertwined, each reinforcing and amplifying the other.

Investment builds the roads, ports, and digital networks that make trade possible. Trade, in turn, creates the opportunities and returns that attract further investment. Together, they form a powerful engine for economic growth—one that can transform industries, connect communities, and shape the future of nations. But growth alone is not enough.

The true measure of our progress is not simply how much our economies expand, but how widely the benefits are shared. Inclusive economic growth is an economic necessity. When more people are able to participate fully in trade and investment, economies become more dynamic, more resilient, and more innovative, and this is particularly true when we consider gender equity.

Across the world, women remain underrepresented in international trade—as entrepreneurs, as business leaders, and as participants in global value chains. Barriers – such as limited access to finance, unequal legal frameworks, and disproportionate care responsibilities continue to limit immense potential – and addressing these gaps is not just about fairness—it is about unlocking growth.

When women have equal access to markets, capital, and opportunities, businesses perform better, communities prosper, and economies grow stronger. Trade policies that are designed with inclusion in mind—policies that support women-owned enterprises, improve access to finance, and remove structural barriers—create benefits that ripple far beyond individual firms.

The same is true for investment. Capital that is directed toward inclusive enterprises, diverse leadership, and equitable opportunities does more than generate returns—it generates lasting impact. So, as we think about the future of trade and investment, we must ask ourselves not only how to grow, but how to grow well. How to ensure that the systems we build are open, fair, and accessible to all. Because when trade and investment work together—and when they work for everyone—they do more than drive prosperity.

They expand opportunity, strengthen societies, and bring us closer to an economy that truly reflects the full potential of all its people. And part of our jobs as diplomats is to help create the policies and frameworks that can drive inclusive economic growth and gender equity in trade.

In Grenada, this is exactly what we are doing. As a small island developing state with a population of a little over 120,000 people – we punch far above our weight and nowhere is that more evident than in the energy and ingenuity of our women entrepreneurs.

From women-led agribusinesses exporting our world-famous nutmeg and cocoa, to female founders building fintech and hospitality enterprises, or those leading in tourism, creative industries, or small-scale manufacturing that attract international attention, Grenadian women are not waiting to be invited to lead. They are already leading and we are creating the avenues for them to thrive.

These businesses are often more than commercial ventures. They are sources of employment, drivers of local development, and powerful examples of what is possible when talent meets opportunity. Many began as small micro-enterprises and have grown into sustainable ventures—demonstrating that ambition, when supported, can flourish anywhere.

But behind these success stories is not just individual determination. It is also the result of deliberate and growing support from the Government of Grenada and its partners. Through initiatives focused on training, access to finance, and business development, women entrepreneurs are being equipped with the tools they need to succeed. Programmes such as entrepreneurship training and micro-business development initiatives have helped women strengthen their skills, expand their operations, and build confidence in navigating competitive markets.

At the policy level, Grenada is also working to create a more enabling environment—partnering with organisations to strengthen legal frameworks, improve social protection systems, and address long-standing gender gaps that affect women in business. These efforts recognise that true economic growth must be inclusive, and that women’s full participation is essential to national prosperity.

Regionally and internationally, Grenadian women entrepreneurs are benefiting from initiatives that connect them to wider markets and investment opportunities. Programmes like SheTrades and the GRIT initiative are helping women-led businesses access training, networks, and export pathways—ensuring they are not only part of the local economy, but active participants in global trade.

This is what success looks like: not just thriving businesses, but an ecosystem that supports them—where government, partners, and entrepreneurs work together to unlock potential. It is for this reason I am delighted to announce that working in close partnership with the Business Growth Summit team, we are in the early stages of planning a dedicated trade mission to Grenada – a structured, purposeful and gender-inclusive journey for serious business leaders who are ready to explore real partnerships, real investment, and real opportunities on the ground.

Grenada has a unique trade and investment climate. A stable, democratic environment with a proactive government, a skilled and educated workforce, and a genuine appetite for international partnership. Our strategic location at the southern tip of the Caribbean gives access to Caribbean Community markets, North America, South America and beyond. Trade and investment are welcomed within critical sectors such as:

• Tourism and hospitality: a sector already thriving, with demand far outpacing supply in high-value, sustainable experiences
• Agriculture and ago-processing: particularly cocoa, nutmeg, and organic produce, with growing export appetite
• Renewable energy: we have set ambitious targets and need the right partners to help us achieve them
• Financial services and fintech: Grenada’s regulatory environment are open and progressive
• Technology and digital services: increasingly attractive to international businesses seeking nearshore operations
• Health and lifestyle: What better place to tap into the opportunities within this market than on a beautiful Caribbean island with all the resources available to make this possible.

We offer competitive incentives for foreign direct investment, and our government is focused on making Grenada not just open for business, but genuinely welcoming. We envision a mission that connects participants directly with Grenadian entrepreneurs, government leaders, and experts – promising an immersive experience. We particularly welcome our women led businesses and entrepreneurs because you have a unique story to tell, and a mandate to hold the doors open.

Let me close with this…

The name of this summit, Women Across Borders, says it all. The greatest trade barriers in the world are not tariffs or treaties. They are the invisible borders: the assumptions about who belongs in a boardroom, who deserves a seat at the negotiating table, and whose ideas are worth financing. When women are supported to lead, businesses grow. When businesses grow, communities prosper. And when communities prosper, nations move forward—stronger, more inclusive, and full of possibility.

Events like this one, and the partnerships, friendships, and deals made in rooms like this one, are how we dismantle those barriers. One handshake, one conversation, and one trade mission – at a time.

Grenada is ready. I am ready. And I look forward to going on this journey with you because investing in women-led businesses is not just the right thing to do. It is one of the smartest investments a country can make in its future.

Thank you.