News

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 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.

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 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Ethiopian Women Entrepreneurs Association (EWEA) and the Groupement des Femmes Entrepreneurs de Madagascar officiel (GFEM) aims to promote collaboration and support for women entrepreneurs in the COMESA region. The MOU will focus on enhancing capacities, facilitating business opportunities, and promoting economic empowerment. The two organizations will also collaborate on networking, advocacy, access to finance, and market access

The 5th COMFWB Trade Fair and Business Conference was a successful event held in Antananarivo, Madagascar on June 28th and 29th, 2024. The event was attended by over 170 delegates from 25 countries, including 21 COMESA member states. The event featured more than 140 women-owned businesses showcasing their products and services, and attracted over 5,000 visitors. The conference also featured presentations from over 60 international experts and was attended by over 1,600 people. The event was a success, and the next COMFWB Trade Fair will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2025.