ENHANCE TRADE AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Enhancing markets and trade for agricultural products is essential to the long-term economic success of women entrepreneurs in East Africa. Blessed with abundant natural resources, the region can produce far more than its people require. This capacity must be tapped to capitalize on the growing demand for nutritious, high-quality foods and products in neighboring countries, Europe, the Middle East and beyond. New uses for agriculture in industry and commerce must be developed as well.

This goal aims to accomplish two primary objectives:

• Expand international marketing opportunities
• Improve access to alternative markets

Our strategy is designed to empower members to branch out into high-profit sectors while maintaining existing markets. AWAN-EA’s objective to expand international marketing opportunities focuses on four components:

• Trade Fairs and Exhibitions —AWAN-EA researches, identifies and informs members of events that offer opportunities for women to advertise their agribusinesses to global buyers. To facilitate participation, AWAN-EA offers advice on upgrading company presentation materials, logistical support and unified AWAN-EA publicity and promotional tools.

• Trade Missions and Buyer-Seller Meetings—Two of the most effective tools for growth in exports are trade missions and buyer-seller meetings. Often government sponsored, these events pave the way for importers to visit targeted countries to explore avenues for investing in businesses or buying specific products. These investors and buyers typically want to meet exporters and inspect their production sites and pack houses. AWAN-EA maintains a strong presence in this arena and helps members capitalize on these prospects by notifying them of missions and meetings and urging them to participate.

• Trade Capacity Building —AWAN-EA builds on the wealth of experience and skills that our members already possess by offering training on advanced concepts, such as growth management, effective networking and export planning. These workshops help members identify high-demand goods, develop marketable new items, increase quantities and improve product quality to meet export standards.