• Your Excellency Dr. Negasso Gidada, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,

• Your Excellency, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Secretary- General of the OAU,

• Honourable Minister of Trade and Industry,

• Honourable Ministers of State,

• Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

• Distinguished Delegates,

• Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of Mr. K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), it is my privilege and pleasure to address this important gathering. Mr. Amoako is deeply committed to the goals of this Trade Fair and Investment Forum, and has asked me to express his best wishes to the organizers - the African Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (AFWE) and the Ethiopian Women Entrepreneurs Association (EWEA) - for a successful series of events.

As you all know, in terms of advocacy, the issue of economic empowerment is of the highest priority to ECA. We have been arguing for some time that as long as half of the continent’s population is excluded from effective participation in the development process, the economic crisis that has dogged Africa for almost two decades cannot be reversed, and under such circumstances meaningful development cannot take place.

Private sector development is one of the key areas we have prioritized in the context of ECA’s recent restructuring exercise. As you know, these reforms were aimed at sharpening the focus of our programmes to better serve the needs of the continent and in the process deliver quality product and work in close collaboration with our partners.

What is clear is that each African country now recognizes and acknowledges the pivotal role that the private sector can play in fueling growth and stimulating development. Some modalities for such a role include: advising on the creation of an enabling environment for the proper functioning of the private sector; encouraging the development of small and medium scale enterprises, which are considered to be effective instruments for employment generation and alleviating poverty; developing capital markets; and revitalizing private sector investment.

If the initiatives and efforts in these areas are to have meaningful impact, encouraging, nurturing and supporting the activities of women entrepreneurs is a must. This Second Global Trade Fair and Investment Forum is a clear demonstration of the resolve of African women entrepreneurs, who we know provide the real backbone to economic activity on our continent, to propel Africa to accelerated higher levels of economic development and growth.

- Mr. President,

- Your Excellencies,

- Distinguished Guests,

It was only five years ago, in June 1993, that the African Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (AFWE) was formally inaugurated in Accra, Ghana. Though the role and contributions of African women to economic development and growth has long been recognized in the corridors of power, it was the formal inauguration of AFWE which marked a watershed in the perception of women’s entrepreneurial contributions to the economy. Upon its genesis, AFWE gave notice to Africa, and indeed to the world, that it was a force to assist Africa’s women to seek economic empowerment; to contribute more openly to the growth and development of the global economy and take due credit in so doing; and to address and seek coordinated solutions to the many barriers, constraints and frustrations faced by women entrepreneurs.

Three years later, AFWE organized the First Global Women Entrepreneurs Trade Fair and Investment Forum in Accra, Ghana. Hosted by its national chapter, the Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs (GAWE), that event brought together business women representing 38 countries from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, North and South America. It also led to the adoption of the Accra Declaration on Women Entrepreneurs in the New World Economic Order.

That Declaration spanned several concerns, including information networks, training, commitment of governments, financial services for women entrepreneurs, and capacity building. It concluded with a special appeal for the ending of conflicts in Africa. The concerns expressed then are still valid today. ECA very much shares these concerns and we consider it important that this forum will provide a key opportunity in the coming days to review achievements, identify problems and learn lessons from best practices, on how far we have come since Accra.

Mr. President,

Your Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

We highly commend the Ethiopian Women Entrepreneurs Association (EWEA) for hosting such a gathering, whose importance cannot be overemphasized. It is our firm conviction that this Second Global Trade Fair and Investment Forum, being hosted for the first time in Addis Ababa, will further catalyze the significant activities of women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia, so as to facilitate the implementation of the Ethiopian National Policy for women in this sector.

The theme of this Second Global Trade Fair remains high on the agenda of our countries. We do hope, therefore, that during the Investment Forum, the debates will help draw concrete conclusions and solutions that will clearly indicate the scope and nature of the contribution women entrepreneurs are making and can make in this critical area. In view of the major challenges we face in bringing about economic development, the ingenuity of our women entrepreneurs stand to be tested.

Given the large number of challenges, it makes sense to focus on a handful, whose resolution can have a multiplier effect and impact on other relevant concerns. Capacity building has been cited many a time as one of the fundamentals for enhancing the advancement of women entrepreneurs and women in business. It will be also important, in this context, to take a critical look at youth entrepreneurship as a means to renew, acquire and apply new skills and methodologies. The younger generation of African businesswoman is better educated than the previous generation, and as such can more readily learn and utilize the new and emerging information and communications technologies. A strategic policy to groom this new generation of women entrepreneurs will certainly bring about increased employment, better access to global knowledge and markets. Such a strategy will also prepare them to face the challenges of the next millenium.

-Mr. President,

-Your Excellencies,

-Distinguished guests,

In concluding, please allow me to reiterate ECA’s full commitment to the economic empowerment of Africa’s women. AFWE goals are clearly in line with the Commission’s objectives to enhance economic development and growth and to promote regional cooperation and integration. Many of you will recall that when in April this year ECA celebrated its 40^{th anniversary, the occasion was used to mobilize partnerships around the contributions of women to Africa’s economic development. We see the Second Trade Fair and Investment Forum as part of this far-reaching strategic process. We are confident that the Forum will go a long way towards further empowering women entrepreneurs, towards the ultimate goal of poverty eradication, economic development and sustained prosperity for our countries and our peoples.}