Owned Firms Prepare Rwanda Entry Under AfCFTA Initiative
Ethiopian women-owned enterprises are preparing to export products to Rwanda starting in September 2026 under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative. The project, led by CAWEE, aims to strengthen regional value chains and improve market access for women-led SMEs.
Why it matters
This initiative represents a practical step toward increasing intra-continental trade in Africa and empowering women entrepreneurs in the SME sector.
Ethiopian women-owned enterprises are preparing to enter the Rwandan market through a trade initiative aimed at expanding regional commerce and creating new export opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The initiative, led by the Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE), is moving from business matchmaking to commercial activity, with the first official shipment of products from women-owned Ethiopian businesses to Rwanda scheduled for September 2026.
The shipment will travel from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa to Kigali International Airport, marking an effort to establish a direct market access channel for women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) between the two countries.
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