Regional Integration Comes to Life at the Third Annual COMFWB Trade Fair
Business Women Incubators Advancing Regional Trade was the theme for the 3rd Annual COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) Regional Women in Business Intra-Trade Fair and Business Conference that took place at the Uganda Museum Grounds in Kampala, Uganda from 24th to 26th August, 2022.
The Trade Fair which was convened in collaboration with the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Trade, Industries and Cooperatives (MTIC),the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), and the Network of African Business Women (NABWU), provided a platform for policy dialogue on strategies to overcome barriers that prevent women and young entrepreneurs from maximizing regional and cross-border trade opportunities.
The schedule of the event ideally matched the current business environment where advancements in cross-border trade developments are taking place through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, through which women entrepreneurs have been introduced to online trading platforms such as SOKOKUU and are learning the benefits of digital trade and use of digital communications and services to achieve economic prosperity.
“The digital world is key to development of our businesses. We must lobby with other COMFWB women entrepreneurs for the successful facilitation of our businesses" COMFWB Comoros Trade Fair participant
The Trade Fair was opened by the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Honourable, Betty Amongi and was attended by the Director of Gender and Social Affairs at COMESA, Mrs. Beatrice Hamusonde, the Deputy Resident Representative in UNDP Uganda, Sheila Ngatia, the Board Chairperson of COMFWB Mrs. Maureen Sumbwe, the COMFWB Chief Executive Officer Ms. Ruth Negash, National Chapter Chairpersons, business women from across the region and local and international investors.
In her remarks, the Minister who represented the Vice President, Her Excellency Jessica Alupo, stated that there is need for women to standardize their products to access global markets. She called upon business stakeholders to support women in business acquire skills on how to conduct import and export trade including standardization, certification, social networking among others to enable them access regional and global markets and get empowered economically.
Sheila Ngatia, the Deputy Resident Representative in UNDP Uganda in her speech said that there is a need to position women in business to take advantage of the market opportunities in the region including AfCFTA, EAC and other blocs as catalysts for trade in Africa.
The 3rd edition of the Trade Fair was conducted against the backdrop of the Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP) which was undertaken in 18 Member States and the Business Incubator for African Women Entrepreneurs (BIAWE)which is currently underway in four Member States.
COMFWB is a COMESA Institution with a mandate of promoting women in Business in the COMESA 20 nations by enhancing exchange of ideas and experience, networking among women entrepreneurs as well as encouraging women to set up or expand existing enterprises.
Business Women Incubators Advancing Regional Trade was the theme for the 3rd Annual COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) Regional Women in Business Intra-Trade Fair and Business Conference that took place at the Uganda Museum Grounds in Kampala, Uganda from 24th to 26th August, 2022.
The Trade Fair which was convened in collaboration with the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Trade, Industries and Cooperatives (MTIC),the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), and the Network of African Business Women (NABWU), provided a platform for policy dialogue on strategies to overcome barriers that prevent women and young entrepreneurs from maximizing regional and cross-border trade opportunities.
The schedule of the event ideally matched the current business environment where advancements in cross-border trade developments are taking place through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, through which women entrepreneurs have been introduced to online trading platforms such as SOKOKUU and are learning the benefits of digital trade and use of digital communications and services to achieve economic prosperity.
“The digital world is key to development of our businesses. We must lobby with other COMFWB women entrepreneurs for the successful facilitation of our businesses" COMFWB Comoros Trade Fair participant
The Trade Fair was opened by the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Honourable, Betty Amongi and was attended by the Director of Gender and Social Affairs at COMESA, Mrs. Beatrice Hamusonde, the Deputy Resident Representative in UNDP Uganda, Sheila Ngatia, the Board Chairperson of COMFWB Mrs. Maureen Sumbwe, the COMFWB Chief Executive Officer Ms. Ruth Negash, National Chapter Chairpersons, business women from across the region and local and international investors.
In her remarks, the Minister who represented the Vice President, Her Excellency Jessica Alupo, stated that there is need for women to standardize their products to access global markets. She called upon business stakeholders to support women in business acquire skills on how to conduct import and export trade including standardization, certification, social networking among others to enable them access regional and global markets and get empowered economically.
Sheila Ngatia, the Deputy Resident Representative in UNDP Uganda in her speech said that there is a need to position women in business to take advantage of the market opportunities in the region including AfCFTA, EAC and other blocs as catalysts for trade in Africa.
The 3rd edition of the Trade Fair was conducted against the backdrop of the Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP) which was undertaken in 18 Member States and the Business Incubator for African Women Entrepreneurs (BIAWE)which is currently underway in four Member States.
COMFWB is a COMESA Institution with a mandate of promoting women in Business in the COMESA 20 nations by enhancing exchange of ideas and experience, networking among women entrepreneurs as well as encouraging women to set up or expand existing enterprises.
