Browsing: Africa women entrepreneurs

Through the Global Gateway strategy, the European Union has announced a second package of EUR 166 Million to support Tanzania’s Blue Economy initiative, digital transition and green revolution. Photo/Panafricavisions

While the government of Tanzania has not listed specific projects that the Global Gateway grant will finance, the country already has several green initiatives underway and is leading the region in digital transformation.

The EU envisions that through the grant funding various solutions will be realized under five main banners; green transition, digital transition, accelerating sustainable growth and decent job creation, strengthening health systems and improving education and training

In this regard, the EU is of the view that tackling the global challenge of climate change, it must work with Africa to maximise the benefits of the green transition and minimise threats to the environment in full compliance with the Paris Agreement, as stated in the official EU statement.…

Leaders of the Africa Investment Forum and stakeholders at a 2019 investment meeting. www.theexchange.africa.com

A major topic of discourse is Africa producing its own vaccines. Now, both the private and public sectors in Africa are lobbying for what is essentially a very lucrative deal for the provision of much-needed affordable health care.

Only last year, members of the Africa Investment Forum team showcased two projects that were focused on the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. Jointly, the two projects are worth over US$140 million and are to be carried out both in East and West Africa.

“The first opportunity, with a project cost of US$96 million, is for the development of a 250-bed specialist hospital offering world-class healthcare services in a West African country,” the Forum announced in a press release.

“The second project is for the construction of a US$45 million WHO-prequalified vaccine production plant in East Africa that will be capable of routine production of three vaccines, including for Covid-19,” the Forum announced.…

Margaret Nyamumbo. She is helping spread Kenya's coffee aroma in the US. www.theexchange.africa
  • Kenya exported coffee worth 26.1 billion shillings (about 229 million U.S. dollars) in 2021
  • Kenya’s coffee farmers have over the years complained about the poor prices and mismanagement

Kenya’s coffee farmers have over the years complained about the poor prices and mismanagement that bedevil the commodity.

While coffee was for a long time known as the main forex earner for the country, other sectors like tourism and ICT have overtaken its earnings. So rich was coffee earnings in a newly independent Kenya in the 1960s that it was nicknamed ‘black gold’.

Last year, Kenya exported coffee worth 26.1 billion shillings (about 229 million U.S. dollars) in 2021, up from 195 million dollars in 2020. This was almost a hundred per cent improvement of the US$102 million (KShs10.2bn) at the end of the 2018/2019 crop year which was a 20 per cent drop from the previous year.

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Women Entrepreneurs

A new report now indicates that women entrepreneurs and in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) are leading the way in tapping into the power of the digital economy to succeed and grow.

According to the inaugural Mastercard MEA SME Confidence Index, women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) believe there are huge benefits of a cash-free economy to their businesses.

As such, 81 percent of the region’s women entrepreneurs have a digital presence for their businesses, compared to 68 percent of their male counterparts.

In terms of a digital footprint of the region’s women entrepreneurs, social media (71 percent) leads the way, followed by a company website (57 percent).

In the Middle East and North Africa, more women entrepreneurs had a website (71 percent) than a social media presence (55 percent).

It also found that over 80 percent of women entrepreneurs have digital readiness for their business compared to their …

Emirati and African women in business to establish joint projects

Women leaders drawn from Africa and United Arab Emirates have called for a new era of active collaboration between female entrepreneurs in the UAE and Africa, highlighting the similarity in synergies between businesswomen in both regions and the importance of drawing on these strengths to create ambitious projects and initiatives.

In a speech delivered by H.E. Dr. Raja Al Gurg, President of Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) at an event on the sidelines of fifth edition of the Global Business Forum on Africa (GBF Africa 2019), organised by Dubai Chamber under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It was delivered in the presence of Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone and, as well as an array of Emirati and African women entrepreneurs.

During her speech, H.E. Al Gurg underlined …