Press Release – Trade Queen Africa: Empowering Continental Women in Trade

Geetha Maharaj

April 13, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TradeBRICS-OpenTRD in partnership with AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Federation (AfYEF) Unveils the Trade Queen Africa Initiative to Empower Women in Trade Across the Continent

TradeBRICS-OpenTRD and AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Federation (AfYEF) are thrilled to announce the launch of the Trade Queen Africa initiative, aimed at empowering women in trade across the continent. The initiative, set to launch on :

Date: 13 April 2024
Venue: 100 3rd Road, Hyde Park, Gauteng
Time: 6pm

marks a significant step towards fostering economic empowerment and continental unity.

Trade Queen Africa, under the auspices of TradebRICS-OpenTRD and AfYEF, is a pioneering project dedicated to advancing the economic well-being of African women engaged in trade. With the theme ‘Beyond Beauty, Fostering Trade!’,this initiative seeks to address the existing disparities and challenges faced by women in the African market space, empowering them to become key players in driving economic growth and development.

The initiative will take the form of a businesswomen pageant, wherein participants (ages 20-35) will be evaluated based on their ability to enhance economic opportunities for women and collaborate effectively with other businesswomen across the continent. Trade Queen Africa aims to bridge the gap in representation for women in decision-making processes concerning trade-related matters, advocating for a more inclusive and empowered future for all

Miss TraqSA aspires to contribute to economic growth across all fifty-five (55) African countries, thereby fostering continental unity and sustainable development. The project invites support from donor organisations, government institutions, businesses, industry stakeholders, media organisations, and private individuals to realise the aspirations of countless young women in Africa.

Key partners supporting this initiative include the Department of Women,Youth and Persons with Disabilities (WYPD), African Import and Export Bank’s (AFREXIM) MANSA , the Association for Small Scale Industries Ghana (ASSI), the Organisation for Women in International Trade (OWIT), among others. Already, countries such as South Africa, Ghana, Zambia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, South Sudan, Liberia, Nigeria, Gambia, Mali, Congo Brazzaville, Cameroon, Malawi, DR Congo, Namibia, Morocco, Rwanda, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Botswana have expressed early interest in participating.

The winner of the Trade Queen Africa initiative will be recognised as Trade Queen South Africa, with the overall continental winner crowned as the Trade Queen of Africa, symbolising a commitment to sustainable development and continental unity.