1 300 African entrepreneurs set to attend AWIEF conference

The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has announced the opening of registration for its ninth annual conference and awards. The event will take place on Thursday, 9 and Friday, 10 November at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda.

AWIEF, a leading entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology platform, brings together over 1 300 entrepreneurs, start-ups, industry experts, policy drivers, and change-makers from across government, corporate, and development sectors for impactful discussions and dialogues.

This year’s conference aims to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, digitisation, investing, food security, climate action, sustainability, and economic and social transformation in Africa.

AWIEF founder and chief executive, Irene Ochem, expressed excitement about bringing the event to East Africa for the first time, saying, “We are looking forward to advancing our efforts in connecting the African and global entrepreneurship ecosystem in this significant hub for business, technology, and innovation.”

Last year’s speakers included African Union Commission deputy chairperson Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Egypt’s minister of international cooperation Dr Rania A. Al-Mashat, and Amazon Web Services’ digital skills global leader Izabela Milewska.

AWIEF 2023 will be a fully in-person event, returning to its pre-pandemic format after a virtual and hybrid event in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions. All participants attending from outside Rwanda are eligible for a visa upon arrival without prior application. Citizens of African Union, Commonwealth, and La Francophonie member countries can obtain free visas upon arrival for a 30-day visit.

The annual conference and awards continue to provide a platform for women entrepreneurs and innovators to showcase their work, network, and learn from industry leaders. This year’s conference promises to be an informative and engaging event, bringing together the best and brightest minds in Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“We look forward to welcoming the global entrepreneurship ecosystem to Kigali and to harnessing the innovative spirit and collective power of women entrepreneurs for a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future for Africa and beyond,” says Ochem.

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