Ethiopia continues to be a driving force for integration across the African continent, consistently advocating for economic unity and regional collaboration, stated Tagesse Chafo, Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR).
Speaking today at the opening of the 6th COMESA Federation for Women in Business Trade Fair and Business Conference in Addis Ababa, the Speaker expressed Ethiopia's honor in hosting the COMESA week and the associated trade fair and conference. He highlighted the event's role in positioning Ethiopia as a central hub for women's entrepreneurship and regional partnership.
"It is also a powerful testament to our shared commitment to empowering women, fostering inclusive economic growth and advancing sustainable development across the COMESA family," Tagesse remarked.
He emphasized that the trade fair serves as a dynamic platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ventures, forge strategic alliances, and gain access to broader regional markets. This, he added, is expected to catalyze transformative growth in crucial sectors, thereby fueling the region's economic progress and collective advancement.
As a founding member of COMESA and an early signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Ethiopia has a long-standing commitment to Africa's economic integration and regional cooperation, the Speaker affirmed.
Tagesse also drew attention to Ethiopia's extensive economic reform agenda. "Through our homegrown economic reform agenda, the Ethiopian government has enacted bold, far-reaching reforms to modernize the economy and foster private sector growth," he stated. These reforms include transitioning from managed exchange rates to a market-driven system to enhance transparency and ease access to foreign currency, liberalizing strategic sectors like telecom and banking, and modernizing trade and customs procedures.
According to the Speaker, these reforms are unlocking significant opportunities for entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth, enabling them to innovate, expand, and integrate into regional and global markets. He urged all COMESA member states and government representatives to prioritize advocating for gender-responsive trade policies at both national and regional levels.
Adding to the discussions, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration Kassahun Gofe reiterated Ethiopia's belief in the power of integration as a practical pathway to shared prosperity. He highlighted the government's ongoing efforts in investing in women-led medium and small enterprises, promoting inclusive value chains, and embedding gender equity within the national trade policy.
The event, organized in collaboration with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Ethiopia's Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, is seen as a significant step in the ongoing efforts to empower women in business throughout the COMESA member states, ENA learned.