ESA promotes women entrepreneurship at AWIEF conference |11 November 2019

The Seychelles delegation (Photo: AWIEF)

Enterprise Seychelles Agency (ESA) participated in the 5th Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) which was held in Cape Town, South Africa from October 29 to 30, 2019.

The prestigious event aims to promote and accelerate the growth of women-owned and women-led businesses for Africa’s inclusive economic growth as well as provide an opportunity to network and share entrepreneurship trends.

ESA attended the main conference, master classes and also had an exhibition booth showcasing the talents of its micro, small and medium entrepreneurs.

The delegation was led by the ESA chief executive Angelic Appoo and she was accompanied by the senior business development officer Beryl Nagapin, and shop manager Bernadette Eulentin.

The CEO also participated in a high-level international panel alongside excellencies such as the former Vice-President of the Republic of Gambia, deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and People with Disability in South Africa, Mission Director for USAID and World Bank country director for South Africa.

The panel discussion was on ‘Creating an enabling environment for leveraging the digital economy and enhancing Intra-African trade’.

Ms Appoo highlighted that there is no gender bias in entrepreneurship in Seychelles as the micro enterprise sector comprises 60% women. Seychelles was congratulated for such an achievement.

“In order to bring about a more digitalised economy, it is important to leverage the natural resources and align them through innovative cycles and processes,” stated Ms Appoo, in response to addressing some of the barriers to create a digital environment in Seychelles.

Alongside the forum, Maria Sullivan, an ESA MSME, was also in Cape Town for the final pitching competition of the FemBioBiz Accelerator Programme.

Mrs. Sullivan, who is co-owner of the business Exotic Scents along with her husband, competed against 8 other participants from 8 African countries and won the first prize in the pitching competition in South Africa.

The coordinator for the FemBioBiz programme in Seychelles, Marie-Celine Zialor, as well as Joanna Philoe, another winner of the FemBioBiz in Seychelles, was also part of the delegation.

Enterprise Seychelles Agency is very satisfied with the progress that Mr and Mrs Sullivan have made so far since they started their business with the then Senpa in 2005.

Contributed by ESA