The women are attending a two days training on Women In Trade Information Platform (WITIP) being held at Alba hotel in Meru, and organized by KNCCI in partnership with Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA). WITIP is a web and mobile based platform that will facilitate access to markets, provide updated and real time information for women traders, create linkages to value added services for the traders as well as networking. The program targets women in business across the country with the aim of increasing economic & social empowerment of women in trade.

This training that kicked off today was officially opened by the Chamber Meru Chapter CEO Ms. Veronica Kihenja who encouraged the business women in Meru to enroll for membership with KNCCI to be able to benefit from numerous opportunities by the Chamber, aimed at supporting the development of the business community in Kenya.

The CEO stated that Meru is blessed with favorable climate that boosts agricultural activities thus contributing to quantity food production especially fruits and vegetable production. She therefore acknowledged that the WITIP will play a key role in supporting marketing of Meru agricultural products to the external markets.

While highlighting KNCCI services, the Chamber Communications Manager Ms. Grace Mwanja expressed that the Chamber understands and values women’s potential and their contribution to the country’s economic growth.

“This WITIP training is just one among many programs implemented by KNCCI to boost women’s potential to engage competitively in the trade environment and to successfully curry out businesses”, Said Ms Mwanja.

To acknowledge the importance of empowering women in the business sector, she quoted the statements by the Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, the late Kofi Annan that, “empowerment of women is the most effective tool for development”.

On her part, the TMEA Women In Trade Programe Manager Ms. Agnes Gakenia explained in confidence that the implementation of the WITIP will help women to grow their businesses and to successfully engage in trade activities not only in Kenya but internationally.

The TMEA Manager committed that her organization is ready to work with other partners who are ready and determined to improve trader’s capabilities in the country, upholding that KNCCI is a key partner in this journey.

The post KNCCI and TMEA Committed To Increase Economic and Social Empowerment of Women in Trade Across The Country appeared first on KNCCI.

The training was opened by KNCCI Women In Business (WIB) Vice Chairperson, Ms. Nancy Muthoni who took the women through the pillars of KNCCI stressing on capacity building to enable women grow their business and advocacy that enables government and private sector  to create market linkages and networking opportunities.

In his remarks, KNCCI Chief Operating Officer Mr. Patrick Nyangweso expressed that he will be grateful to see women in business benefit from the Women In Trade platform that will connect the women to the The Continental Free Trade Agreement(CFTA)  which is designed to boost intra-African trade and pave the way for the future establishment of a continental customs union.

KNCCI Head of Special programs Ms. Nemaisa Kiereini welcomed the participants with a brief on what the Women In Trade program is about. In her highlighting, she stated that the Women in Trade Information Platform is a web and mobile based platform that facilitates access to markets, provides updated and real time information for women traders, create linkages to value added services and networks.

On the other hand, KNCCI Business Development Manager Ms. Virginia Waruingi urged the women in business to register as members of KNCCI  members to gain access to credibility of their businesses and increase visibility through networking opportunities.

Also present during the training was Trade Mark East Africa Manager, WIT Program Ms. Agnes Gakenia. The TMEA Manager enlighten participants on TMEA Women In Business Program indicating that TMEA works closely with East African Community (EAC) institutions, national governments, the private sector and civil society organizations to increase trade by unlocking economic potential through increased physical access to markets, enhanced trade environment and improved business competitiveness.

The Women In Trade platform will enable access to a wider market, eliminate trade barriers and understanding trade with other countries.

The post KNCCI & TMEA HOLD A WOMEN IN TRADE (WIT) PLATFORM STAKEHOLDER TRAINING PROGRAM appeared first on KNCCI.

This morning the two Organizations represented by KNCCI President Mr. Richard Ngatia and Xetova Founder and CEO Mr. Bramwel Mwalo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cement the cooperation.

This MOU seeks to progress the WeDeliver Agenda as a holistic technology driven initiative that is designed to support Africa’s large buying organization to include more women-owned businesses to access procurement opportunities and succeed in the marketplace.

The WeDeliver Agenda will ensure that women are linked with procurement opportunities that will expand the market niche for their products and services, thus facilitating the growth of women-owned businesses.  By providing access to data that will ease access to flexible trade finance, women-led businesses will access financing to enable them meet the required supply in the procurement marketplace. This partnership will further support the Chamber in delivering data and supply chain digitization and related training for its members in preparation for the WeDeliver Agenda. This MOU is a strategic socio- economic initiative that will advance inclusion of women-owned businesses in the procurement marketplace and business value chains.

KNCCI welcomes the WeDeliver Agenda as a progressive strategy to support women-led businesses, which significantly contribute to job creation and sustainability of livelihoods. KNCCI is committed to ensure inclusion of women-led businesses in all its activities, to advance their full potential and optimize their contribution to the Kenyan economy. Women led businesses constitute a significant part of the Business Membership at KNCCI and continue to enjoy membership benefits in terms of business and trade facilitation.

The post KNCCI-XETOVA PARTNERSHIP TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN -OWNED BUSINESSES appeared first on KNCCI.