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Absa Bank Kenya, in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) SheTrades Kenya Hub, is set to host the largest assembly of women entrepreneurs on the continent. The Absa InspireMe Conference 2024 will bring together over 10,000 women entrepreneurs from across Africa, fostering market linkages, business-to-business networking, and mentorship.
The conference, part of Absa Bank’s women in business initiative launched in 2021, will focus on the theme “Empowering Your Story for Growth.” This theme aligns with Absa’s new brand promise, “Your Story Matters,” emphasizing a customer-centric approach. The conference aims to support women entrepreneurs by providing a platform to share ideas, empower each other, and discuss emerging trends and skills necessary for business growth.
“We are thrilled to once again host the conference in Nairobi,” said Elizabeth Wasunna, Absa Bank Business Banking Director, during the launch event at Absa Headquarters. “Our mission is to create a platform that brings together prominent African women in business to share ideas, empower one another, and discuss emerging trends and skills necessary to transform their institutions and propel them to various levels of growth.”
The 2024 conference will feature knowledge-sharing and inspirational sessions from global and local business leaders, an exhibition of products and services, and industry-specific trade visits. Additionally, a delegation from the United Kingdom will connect women entrepreneurs with UK buyers to build new business linkages and expand economic opportunities for women-led businesses across the continent.
Women entrepreneurs from Absa participating countries, including Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Mauritius, and Uganda, will attend, as well as participants from SheTrades Hub countries such as Mauritius, Rwanda, South Africa, Ghana, The Gambia, and Nigeria.
In conjunction with the Absa InspireMe Conference, select women-led businesses from the agrifood, textiles and apparel, handicrafts, and accessories sectors will engage in one-to-one business meetings with potential buyers from the UK and African corporations. Representatives from SheTrades Hubs will explore collaboration opportunities with delegates from the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chamber International, and the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry. They will also discuss export opportunities available through the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme.
Phyllis Mwangi, SheTrades Hub Regional Coordinator for East and South, emphasized the significance of this event: “The African market represents a 1.4 billion market opportunity for Kenyan SMEs. This conference will bring 11 UK buyers and 20 large corporations from SheTrades Hubs countries to explore new opportunities with women entrepreneurs.”
The InspireMe Conference will feature a prestigious lineup of successful entrepreneurs, government representatives, regulators, Absa senior executives, and managing directors from Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, and other key stakeholders, including the Kenya Association of Manufacturers. The event will include various panel discussions aligned with the main theme of “Empowering Your Story for Growth.”
Notable participants include Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry Rebecca Miano; the President’s Advisor on Women’s Rights Hon. Harriette Chiggai; KAM CEO Anthony Mwangi; Visa Country Lead Eva Ngigi; Catherine Muraga, MD of Microsoft Africa Development; and Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, CEO of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority.
Other official partners for the conference include Finance in Motion, Africa Guarantee Fund, and APA Insurance. Over the past three years, the conference has united over 8,000 women across Africa, providing them with opportunities to learn from mission-driven women business leaders in Ghana, Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya.
