The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers immense potential for economic growth and a brighter future, particularly for women entrepreneurs in Côte d'Ivoire and across Africa. Ivorian women entrepreneurs are gearing up to leverage these opportunities, and on Saturday, 23 April 2022, a conference was held to highlight these prospects.
The conference, organized by the Women in Logistics and Transport Côte d'Ivoire Association (WiLAT CI), centered around the theme "The AfCFTA-NC and women entrepreneurs in Côte d'Ivoire: what are the expectations?" It brought together a number of experts, including Ms. Fatoumata FOFANA, Executive Secretary of the AfCFTA National Committee (AfCFTA-NC); Mr. Claude AMAN, Director of Logistics Solutions at Bolloré; and Ms. Séphora Kodjo, CEO of the Sephis Foundation.
The event, which gathered around a hundred women from the logistics and transport sectors in Côte d'Ivoire, aimed to educate and inform participants about the AfCFTA Agreement. It also served as a platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities within the transport sector, and how the AfCFTA can enhance performance and growth for women entrepreneurs in these fields.
As a reminder, the National Committee of the African Continental Free Trade Area (CN-ZLECAf) prioritizes promoting women's participation in trade as part of the sixth pillar of its national strategy. In this context, Mrs. Fatoumata FOFANA BOUNDY, Executive Secretary of CN-ZLECAf and an advocate for Ivorian women entrepreneurs, highlighted the importance of the AfCFTA Agreement during her panel address at the conference.
In her remarks, she began by presenting the AfCFTA Agreement and outlining its key implications. She then emphasized the opportunities the African Continental Free Trade Area offers to women entrepreneurs in Côte d’Ivoire. The Executive Secretary also used the platform to encourage participants to formalize their businesses and prepare to fully benefit from the provisions of this Agreement.
The conference concluded with an inspiring message from Ms. Fofana: "Africa remains our continent, and our duty is to develop it as women entrepreneurs, despite the challenges we face." This sentiment resonated strongly with the attendees, motivating them to embrace the AfCFTA and move forward in their entrepreneurial endeavors with renewed determination and optimism.