The Federation of National Associations of Women in Business in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has launched its new strategic plan for 2026-2030 in Tunis. The announcement was made during the opening of the 7th COMESA Regional Trade Fair and Business Conference, an event designed to bolster economic collaboration among women entrepreneurs across the region.
Quick Facts
- What: Launch of the 2026-2030 strategic plan for women entrepreneurs.
- Where: Tunis, during the 7th COMESA Business Conference.
- Why: To unify support for female founders across 21 member states.
A Unified Vision for Pan-African Female Entrepreneurship
The new plan, which stems from the African Union’s Agenda 2063, aims to create a cohesive vision for supporting women’s entrepreneurship across the 21 COMESA member nations. Leila Belkhiria Jaber, President of the National Chamber for Women Entrepreneurs and Vice President of the COMESA federation, stated that the strategy’s launch in Tunisia highlights a shared regional commitment.
The framework will focus on providing entrepreneurs with access to qualification programs, mentorship, and easier pathways to funding within the free trade area. Held under the theme “One Market, One Future,” the initiative pushes for the practical implementation of regional trade agreements to unlock the benefits of integration within COMESA and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Tunisia’s Push Beyond Funding to Comprehensive Support
Tunisia’s Minister of Family, Women, Children, and the Elderly, Asma Al-Jabri, affirmed the country’s commitment to acting as a primary gateway for African economic exchange. She highlighted the notable growth in female entrepreneurship in Tunisia, with more businesses expanding into international markets.
Al-Jabri explained that Tunisia’s national vision is shifting from simple financing mechanisms to a model of comprehensive support. This includes directing investments towards high-potential, sustainable, and digital sectors to help create high-value-added women-led projects and integrate them into global value chains. She pointed to national programs like “Raedet,” which provides a dedicated financing line and preferential measures for women launching businesses.
Leveraging Digital Tech to Break Down Trade Barriers
Samir Majoul, President of the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), emphasized the crucial role of women as the backbone of small and medium-sized enterprises and cross-border trade in the COMESA region.
Majoul noted that digital technology has the potential to overcome the physical and customs barriers that often hinder intra-African trade. He identified e-commerce platforms, fintech solutions, and the digitization of customs procedures as key levers that can provide African women with direct access to new markets.
About COMESA Federation of Women in Business
The COMESA Federation of Women in Business (FEMCOM) is an institution of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa established in 1993. Its mission is to promote the economic empowerment of women in the region by supporting their participation in trade and investment activities. FEMCOM works across 21 member states to foster an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs through advocacy, training, and access to finance and markets.
Source: Express FM
