Addis Ababa, November 12, 2024 (FBC) – An exhibition highlighting Ethiopian women exporters will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, on December 6, 2024, as part of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative. Co-organized by the Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE), the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program’s (AWEP) Kenya chapter, and the GoDigital organization, the event aims to connect Ethiopian women entrepreneurs with Kenyan and international buyers.
Dr. Negest Haile, Founder and Executive Director of CAWEE, emphasized that the exhibition seeks to enhance market access for women-owned businesses and promote their products. In partnership with UNDP, CAWEE has been exploring strategies to leverage the AfCFTA for this purpose.
Dr. Haile and Demeke Atnafu, Deputy Head of Mission of the Ethiopian Embassy in Kenya, recently discussed the progress of the event’s preparations. CAWEE has established an office in Nairobi and is looking to replicate similar initiatives in other African cities, including Accra, Ghana; Lomé, Togo; and Kinshasa, DRC, to further promote Ethiopian products with women’s involvement. CAWEE has been operational in Ethiopia since 2024, as noted by its founder.