News

Ethiopia is gearing up to host the highly anticipated 6th COMFWB Trade Fair and Business Conference in May 2025. A recent meeting between Ethiopian government officials and the COMFWB Secretariat discussed preparations for this significant event, which aims to empower women entrepreneurs across the COMESA region. The Ethiopian government, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Women Entrepreneurs Association (EWEA) and the COMFWB Ethiopia Chapter, will spearhead the organization committee. The trade fair is expected to attract over 500 women entrepreneurs from 21 COMESA member states, providing them with a platform to showcase their products and services to a regional audience. The event will also feature a business conference, offering valuable insights and networking opportunities for participants. With a population of over 110 million, Ethiopia presents a vast and untapped market for women-owned businesses. The trade fair is poised to connect Ethiopian women entrepreneurs with new markets and business opportunities, contributing to economic growth and empowerment.

The Chairperson of the COMESA Federation of Women in Business has urged the Malawi Chapter's Board of Trustees to adopt contemporary governance practices. Addressing a recent training, she emphasized the importance of proactive leadership and well-structured governance systems for organizational success. The training focused on Board development and organizational structure, aiming to empower the Board to drive the Malawi Chapter towards its goal of fostering Women's participation in Trade and Business.

The Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) and the COMFWB Seychelles Chapter signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a business incubation center in Seychelles. The center will provide support to women, youth, and entrepreneurs in the agriculture and fisheries value chains. This is the first fully fledged incubation center in Seychelles and represents a significant milestone for entrepreneurship, especially for women.

The COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) has elected a new Board of Directors for the 2024-2026 term. Ms Maureen Sumbwe from Zambia was re-elected as Chairperson, while Mrs. Leila Belkhiria Jaber from Tunisia became Vice Chairperson. Ms Angie Wibabara from Rwanda was also re-elected as Rapporteur. Other new members include Selina Mwenelupembe from Malawi, Zintombi Thandi from Eswatini, Ibtissam Ben Amer from Libya, Claudette Albert from Seychelles, Fanja Razakaboana from Madagascar, and Choukri Abdillahi from Djibouti. The Board is responsible for making decisions that align with COMFWB's values and goals.

The 5th COMFWB Trade Fair and Business Conferences was a significant event held in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on June 28th and 29th, 2024. It brought together over 70 international experts and 1600 participants to discuss strategies for empowering women entrepreneurs within the COMESA Region. The event provided a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and partnership building. It offered valuable insights, resources, and inspiration to women entrepreneurs, contributing to their growth and success within the COMESA Region.

The 5th COMFWB Awards 2024 successfully celebrated the achievements of women entrepreneurs and COMFWB Women national Association / Chapters in the COMESA Region.COMESA Chapters actively participated with nominations. 34 nominations received from 9 countries. Winners came from various sectors like education, biogaz energy, agribusiness, leather products, handicraft, tourism, and textiles.