MEDIA ADVISORY 

WHAT: 6th COMFWB Trade Fair and Business Conference 

Theme: A Thriving COMESA Through Gender-Responsive Regional Integration: Unlocking Opportunities in Green Investments, Value Chains, Tourism and Mining 

WHO: Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Federation of National Association of Women in Business (COMFWB) and partners

WHEN: 7–9 May 2025 09:00-18:00 EAT (GMT+3) 

WHERE: Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

BACKGROUND

The COMFWB Trade Fair is a flagship regional platform that promotes women’s participation in trade, regional value chains and enterprise development across the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The 6th edition takes place in Addis Ababa, bringing together over 400 participants including entrepreneurs, government representatives, regional institutions and development partners. 

UNDP’S PARTICIPATION 

UNDP, through its Regional Service Centre for Africa (RSCA), is actively participating in the event with dedicated exhibition booths and technical engagement. As part of its broader initiative to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), UNDP is also facilitating the participation of women entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses.

This initiative is aligned with UNDP’s ongoing efforts to enhance market access, build entrepreneurial skills, and improve access to financing, ensuring that women-led enterprises can fully benefit from the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). UNDP’s presence at the Fair also aims to strengthen partnerships with COMESA institutions, expand support to women-led businesses, and highlight progress on trade facilitation and enterprise development at regional and national levels. Moreover, UNDP is spotlighting the work of HerAfCFTA, a comprehensive initiative designed to empower women entrepreneurs and professionals to fully participate in and benefit from the AfCFTA. 

Implemented in several countries, HerAfCFTA adopts a holistic approach that includes capacity building, improved access to markets, trade facilitation, business networking, digitalization and market intelligence. By supporting initiatives like HerAfCFTA and COMFWB Business Conference and Trade Fair, UNDP reinforces its commitment to ensuring that women are not left behind in the continent’s economic integration agenda, and instead are positioned as key drivers of inclusive and sustainable growth across Africa. PARTICIPANTS: The event will bring together COMFWB national chapters, entrepreneurs from all COMESA member states, government officials, private sector actors, regional institutions (COMESA, AUC), and development partners including UNDP. 

For media inquiries and interview requests with UNDP or sponsored entrepreneurs, please contact: 

Ayda Labassi Digital Communications Specialist, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa Email: ayda.labassi@undp.org  

For questions related to our AfCFTA regional portfolio, please contact: Nozipho Hlophe, Regional Analyst, AfCFTA, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa nozipho.hlophe1@undp.org  

Learn more about UNDP’s support to the AfCFTA implementation: https://www.undp.org/africa/afcfta   

About UNDP

UNDP works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. In Africa, UNDP supports 46 countries in accelerating the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Guided by the principle that Africa is not homogenous, UNDP's Renewed Strategic Offer in Africa is a premier ENABLER and INTEGRATOR for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the African Union's Agenda 2063.