The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Secretariat has conducted a Follow up Meeting of the IGAD Women in Business Conference convened in November 2011.  The Follow up Meeting conducted from 25th to 26th June 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya was attended by delegates from ministries of women/gender affairs as well as trade and commerce, national chambers of commerce and women in business associations of IGAD Member States. Also in attendance were representatives of the African Trade Policy Center of the UNECA as well as FEMCOM of COMESA.

The meeting was officially opened by a statement read by Ms. Fathia Alwan on behalf of the IGAD Executive Secretary, H.E. Eng. Mahboub Maalim  and  a key note address made by a representative of the Ministry of Trade of the Government of Kenya, Ms. Amy M. Ndungu.

The delegates of the member states gave updates on their achievements since the convening of the IGAD Women in Business Conference November last year, and therefore exchanged ideas and shared experiences of their respective countries. The participants of the meeting also discussed in depth on the type of a regional umbrella organization that they want to have, by assessing the status of FEMCOM and the East African Women in Business Organization.

It was agreed at the end of the meeting that IGAD Secretariat commission a consultant to conduct a feasibility study on how best to establish the IGAD Women in Business Forum and reconvene another meeting to determine on the establishment of the desired platform by June 2013.

For more information, please contact

Hadera Tesfay

hadera.tesfay@igad.int

IGAD Secretariat