Posted on October, 23, 2023 at 11:27 pm
The Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) in collaboration with Africa Women Agribusiness Network-Africa (AWAN-Africa) wants the government to put in place proper policies to protect women involved in cross-border trade.
In the quest to bridge the gender gap in the Agri-entrepreneurship space, players are mooting for partner countries to foster collaborations to steer expansion of women businesses in Africa and globally.
NCTTCA Executive Secretary Omae Nyarandi regretted that women involved in cross border trade are still faced with discrimination and cross border documentation while crisscrossing among member states.
Nyarandi made the remarks in Mombasa during a joint workshop for women traders in Agribusiness from the Northern corridor region, held in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and Africa Women Agribusiness Network-Africa (AWANAfrica).
“Mostly the documentation that will involve the cross-border trade, and discrimination, as you know covid-19 brought a lot of challenges in cross border movement, but working with partners we are facilitating that to make it as an essential but still there are a lot of challenges,” he added.
The workshop will also provide an opportunity for the women to network and grow their Agri-business. The meeting brought women trader’s representatives from six-member country representatives of Uganda, Southern Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda and DRC and Kenya.
“Cross border trade in this region is composed 80 per cent of women, such workshop will equip them with requisite knowledge to do cross-border trade, women play a very important role, so if we invest in women, we can grow Africa, we have Africa continental trade which provides a lot of opportunities, “said Nyarandi.
Cross border trade has lagged behind with data showing member countries only export 15 per cent of their products while a huge chunk of products is imported. Their plan is to demystify the myths that affect women in trade so as to increase productivity.
“In this region we are exporting only less than 15 per cent, and if Agriculture forms the bulk of our export we are here to network with women, dedicate them and see how we can boost them to do cross-border trade,” said Nyarandi.
Source: Peoples Daily