Absa Bank Kenya and the International Trade Centre (ITC) SheTrades Kenya Hub are set to host the Absa InspireMe Conference, the continent’s largest gathering of women entrepreneurs, targeting over 10,000 participants. This initiative, under Absa Bank’s Women in Business proposition launched in 2021, aims to facilitate market linkages, business-to-business networking, and mentorship.
This year’s conference, themed “Empowering Your Story for Growth,” aligns with Absa’s new brand promise, “Your Story Matters.” The theme underscores the bank’s commitment to a customer-centric approach, fostering an environment where women entrepreneurs can share ideas, empower each other, and explore emerging business trends and skills.
Absa Bank Business Banking Director Elizabeth Wasunna highlighted the mission to create a platform for prominent African women in business to connect and grow. The event will also feature an exhibition of products and services, industry-specific trade visits, and a delegation from the United Kingdom to build new business linkages and expand economic opportunities for women-led businesses.
Women entrepreneurs from Absa participating countries, including Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Mauritius, and Uganda, as well as participants from SheTrades Hubs in Mauritius, Rwanda, South Africa, Ghana, The Gambia, and Nigeria, will converge for this significant event. The conference will facilitate one-to-one business meetings with UK buyers, offering new opportunities for women-led businesses in various sectors.
Phyllis Mwangi, SheTrades Hub Regional Coordinator for East and South, emphasized the potential of the African market, representing a 1.4 billion market opportunity for Kenyan SMEs. The conference aims to explore new opportunities with 11 UK buyers and 20 large corporations from SheTrades Hubs countries, fostering collaboration and export opportunities.
The Inspire Me Conference will feature a prestigious lineup of successful entrepreneurs, government representatives, regulators, and key stakeholders. Notable personalities include the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry Rebecca Miano, President’s Advisor on Women Rights Hon Harriette Chiggai, and KAM CEO Anthony Mwangi. Over the last three years, this conference has united over 8,000 women across Africa, empowering them through mission-driven leadership.
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