Economic Empowerment of Women Indispensable to Achieve Agenda 2063  

Addis Ababa, May 8, 2025 (ENA ) -- Economic empowerment of women is indispensable to achieve prosperous Africa under Agenda 2063, African Union  Commission (AUC)  Deputy Chairperson, Selma Malika Haddadi stressed.

The 6th COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) trade fair and business conference was opened in Addis Ababa.

Over 200 women entrepreneurs from 21 COMESA member states have showcased their products and services at the trade fair.

The trade-fair has provided an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to exchange experiences and create market linkages.

In her opening remarks, AUC Deputy Chairperson, Selma Malika Haddadi said the continent's economic integration need to be accelerated by increasing intra-African trade.

Moreover, she added that the participation and economic empowerment of women is crucial; stressing that African Union is designing and implementing various projects to ensure women's equality and increase their economic benefits.

She emphasized that continental integration involving women would undoubtedly be effective to realize a prosperous Africa under Agenda 2063, applauding the commendable performance of COMESA for improving intra-Africa trade and economic integration.

“This commendable performance of COMESA illustrates its contribution to achieving the objectives of AfCFTA in terms of industrial productivity and improved intra-Africa trade on the one hand and to the achievement of Agenda 2063 on the other hand,” she explained.

COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) Chairperson, Maureen Sumbwe said that ensuring equality of women is not only about protecting rights but also about accelerating development.  

 

The chairperson pointed out that encouraging and providing equal opportunities to women entrepreneurs in various fields of work plays an irreplaceable role in the economic growth of the country.

COMESA member countries need to formulate and implement policies that encourage women entrepreneurs, she noted.

“Many positive commitments have been made to agenda of women equality. There are rooms to strengthen political actions and promises into lasting change. We need more than promises; we need real steps that will give women equal access, equal opportunities and fair chance to grow and to lead,” she stressed.

On her part, COMESA Secretary General, Chileshe Kapwepwe said that the role of women entrepreneurs in strengthening economic and trade integration among member states of COMESA is vital;  in this regard, it is necessary to jointly address the challenges faced by women and youth to further enhance their significant role in national development and regional integration.

 

“Despite the roles of women entrepreneurs play in the economy, their business have continued to face a number of challenges such as limited knowledge and skill in specific contexts, constraints of market linkages through information and communication technology; limited access to finance as a result of conditions set by financial sectors on to obtain loans-- such as high interest rate and requirements for collateral and inadequate startup capital.

Climate change and conflict are also eroding achievements of decades of investments in gender equality and women empowerment,” she elaborated.