Women entrepreneurs in the East African Community (EAC) have been encouraged to play a central role in deepening of the regional integration. They have been urged to this through the promotion of cross-border trade among the EAC partner states.

The call has been made by the principal secretary for East African Affairs at the Kenya State Department for East African Affairs (SDEAA) in the Ministry of East Africa, Betty Maina. While speaking at a three-day Rwanda-Kenya Women in Business trade mission held in Kigali, Maina emphasized how the promotion of cross-border trade among the EAC partner states must be cardinal among women entrepreneurs.

“It’s critical for you as women entrepreneurs from Rwanda and Kenya to take a central role as drivers of regional integration and to deliver that promise of East Africa as a people-centered and private sector driven,” Maina said.

She added that successful women entrepreneurships can be achieved through coming up with innovative products within the region.

She noted that it’s through robust and useful collaboration between business associations in the region that will make a difference in the East African integration.

She hailed the government of Rwanda and Kenya for creating a framework and an enabling environment for businesses to strive.

She urged the EAC member states to continue putting in place the right infrastructure, polices and frameworks that are geared towards the promotion of business growth and development in the region.

“Our largest market as Kenya is in East Africa and it’s something we value a lot and this collaboration with EAC member states such as Rwanda is critical in realization of increased welfare of East Africans. We call upon the governments in the region to raise the resources and put great investments in infrastructure development and social services. This will ultimately make our region more prosperous socially and economically,” Maina noted.

She further revealed that the greatest source of revenue, well-being and employment in any country comes from the citizen own production rather than just trading goods imported from other countries. She called upon governments in the region to remove the barriers affecting regional trade and harmonization of policies.

She also urged the EAC partner states to also address major competitive factors that are vital for the growth of high potential entrepreneurial activities. She mentioned a few like addressing constraints to innovations, business sophistication, technology and development of financial markets.

Speaking at the same event, the High Commissioner of Kenya to Rwanda, John Mwangemi said; “We continue to applaud the government and the people of Rwanda for being the leader in women empowerment in East Africa. This is something we always appreciate and we must emulate as East Africans.”

He encouraged women to stand tall and take advantage of the available opportunities provided by both the governments of Rwanda and Kenya under their private sectors.

Euegenie Mushimiyina, the president of the Chamber of Women at the Private Sector Federation (PSF), said her chamber aspires to increase the number of women with sustainable income in the country.

The women chamber at PSF is comprised of members from mainly 8 business sectors which include; tourism, art and crafts, industry, liberal professionals, ICT, commerce, services and finance.

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EAC states urged on women economic empowerment

Women entrepreneurs in East African region have called upon partner states to come up with specific financial instruments tailored towards empowering women economically.

The call was made in Kigali by women entrepreneurs from Rwanda and Kenya during the opening of a three-day Kenya-Rwanda Business Trade Mission.

In her remarks at the forum, Mary Muthoni, the Chairperson of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, governments in the region need to understand the general challenges entrepreneurs face in making trade work especially for women entrepreneurs.

“When we thought of coming up with this trade mission, we looked at aspects where by women can find it very easy to trade with one another in the East African markets,” Muthoni said.

She noted that there is need for EAC governments to put in place policies to allow women access education, skills and capital which can make their businesses flourish.

She emphasized on governments investment in training and education to allow women to upgrade their entrepreneurship skills. She also called upon the governments in the EAC to understand the needs of small scale traders as well as the gender dimensions.

According to her, several African countries are part of the regional integration schemes but the implementation track record remains very weak. She added that investing in implementing the regional integration will make the region more prosperous socially and economically.

“Our coming here is to join hands as Kenya and Rwanda entrepreneurs because at the end of the day, if we want to go fast, we can only work alone but when we want to walk far we can join hands and work together and ensure that the woman of East Africa is one woman who is strong socially and economically,” Muthoni stated.

She noted that almost 50% of SMEs in Africa are constituted by women but a few of them survive the third year of their business existence.

Speaking at the same event, the President of the Chamber of Women at the Private Sector Federation (PSF), Eugenie Mushimiyimana said, the chamber was created in 2005 and it has since made a number of strides as regards to promotion of women entrepreneurship in the country.

“The primary mandate of our chamber is to empower women in business and to achieve that we focus on advocacy, networking, capacity building and forming partnerships with key stakeholders,” Mushimiyimana said.

She noted that the chamber’s strategy aims at improving the business climate and removing obstacles to doing business in order to reinforce economic growth of women in the country. She also highlighted how their mission is to improve socio-economic status of women in both urban and rural areas by creating opportunities for development through enhanced economic participation.

“Through this mission, the chamber of women aims at strengthening women entrepreneurship, development and business growth, increase capacity for women in entrepreneurship and increase the number of women enterprises in the country,” Mushimiyimana added.

The three-day workshop is held under the theme; “Unlocking business opportunities through women empowerment”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Private Sector Federation, Stephen Ruzibiza, said women play a critical role towards the government development agenda. He commended the trade forum between Rwanda and Kenya business women as being paramount in as far as deepening regional integration is concerned.