COMMUNIQUE

  We, women entrepreneurs and women in business from Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, USA, Zambia and other participants from the private sector, non-governmental and international organizations, meeting at the Second Global Women Entrepreneurs Trade Fair and Investment Forum in Addis Ababa from 15 to 23 October 1998, having as our main theme "Credit and Direct Private Investment" for the enhancement of Women Entrepreneurs participation in the global economy.

• Following the commitments set out in the Accra Declaration of 1996;

• Having successfully achieved some of the goals and objectives set out in the said Declaration;

• Determined to move forward in our search for entrepreneurial development and growth;

• Bearing in mind the content of the theme for the 2^nd Global Investment Forum,

Do hereby address national associations, respective governments, the business community, and the international development partners, on the following:

• Instiling the culture of quality and productivity;
• Appreciating the value of local raw materials, produce and technologies and encouraging their consumption;
• Creating appropriate credit facilities for women entrepreneurs with less stringent collateral requirements;
• Rationalizing the application of foreign direct investment in relation to globalization, with emphasis on the Uruguay Round Agreement and the development of Pan-African trade;
• Adding value to women’s industry and services;
• Enhancing the exchange of experiences and information through the use of new technologies;
• Engaging in constructive dialogue with governments, NGO’s and international organizations with a view to empowering women entrepreneurs.

After considering these issues thoroughly, the participants of the Investment Forum have come up with the following recommendations:

• Facilitation of access to finance and credit.
• Strengthening linkages among local raw material producers, manufacturers/ processors and end users.
• Collaboration among training institutions, governments, NGO’s, professional associations etc. for capacity building.
• Develop partnership through networking and establish market information centres.
• Facilitate the acquisition of land for women entrepreneurs and the promotion and creation of start-up businesses.
• Remove socio-cultural barriers from factors of production and all legal impediments to women’s growth and development.
• Establish mechanisms to promote products both locally and globally and encourage intra-regional and sub-regional trade.
• Governments to ensure stability by observance of good governance.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 23 October 1998