The Economic Development Board (EDB), as the host institution for the International Trade Centre (ITC) SheTrades initiative, led a delegation of women entrepreneurs to The ABSA InspireMe Conference which took place from 18th to 21st June 2024 in Nairobi Kenya.
The delegation comprised women entrepreneurs operating in the fields of ICT, Textile & Apparel, Training and Manufacturing eager to tap into this unique opportunity to strike business deals with corporations from across the continent and the United Kingdom.
The event was beneficial in building new business linkages and expand economic opportunities for women-led businesses from across the continent and the United Kingdom (UK). Being part of the ITC SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme, the event was funded by UK International Development and saw the participation of 10 UK-based buyers and 3 chamber of commerce representatives namely from the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chamber International, and West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Moreover, the hybrid Absa InspireMe Conference registered over 400 participants including, 17 representatives from large corporations in Africa, and 65 women entrepreneurs from the delegations of SheTrades Hubs in Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, the Gambia, and South Africa.
The opening day of the Conference featured a welcome message from the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Mrs. Rachel Ruto and Absa Bank Kenya Managing Director and Chief Executive Director, Mr. Abdi Mohamed.
Following the grand opening, a number of panel sessions focused on key topics across women’s entrepreneurial and export development: accessing finance, navigating the digital marketplace and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The UK Regional Trade Advisor for East Africa, Mr. Jamal Hussain also delivered a presentation on export opportunities available through the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme and Economic Partnership Agreements.
The delegation from Mauritius participated in a series of one-to-one business meetings with potential buyers from the UK delegation and African corporations They also had the opportunity to showcase their products. The sector-specific field visits to Kenyan companies had been very insightful for the participating companies.
Mrs Adilla Mosafeer from Talent Lab & HR Café Mauritius, one of the participants stated her experience at this event as: “Highly inspirational and energizing. The event was a gate opener to cross-border opportunity.”
