African Women Entrepreneurs

When it comes to Economic growth, African women Entrepreneurs Mean business!

Recent studies have found that women-run SME's have proven to be powerful drivers of economic growth. It is becoming increasingly apparent that when the traditional barriers to women's economic participation are removed, and when they are afforded their rightful access to business opportunities -- to markets, to finance and credit, and to training, their potential to contribute to prosperity and progress can have no bounds. Thus, a key element of our outreach to African women entrepreneurs also includes an emphasis on helping women take their businesses to then next level. Thus far, the results are impressive. Since joining AWEP, a solid 35 percent of participants have secured an increase in trade deals in foreign countries, and 50 percent have boosted the production capacity of their businesses. Further, 63 percent have reported growth in the size of their business, including an increase in number of employees.
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Ms. Joyce William Mbwete, Owner/Managing Director of Foot Loose Tanzania Limited from Tanzania, highlights her role as a participant in Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2011 African Women's Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP)at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., on October 3, 2011