Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation and Rwanda Convention Bureau have confirmed their partnership with the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) for its 2023 conference.
The 9th edition of the annual AWIEF Conference, Exhibition and Awards will be held at the Kigali Convention Centre, in Rwanda, on 9 and 10 November 2023.
The Minister of ICT and Innovation of the Republic of Rwanda, Ms Paula Ingabire, said: “As a country that understands the critical role of women in national development and transformation, Rwanda is delighted to host the 9th Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Conference and Awards, in November. We will be particularly interested in discussing practical solutions to accelerate Africa’s inclusive digital transformation and contribute to closing the gender gap.”
Established in 2015, AWIEF has become Africa’s leading entrepreneurship, innovation and technology platform, bringing together more than 1,300 entrepreneurs and startups, industry experts, thought leaders, policy drivers, and change-makers from across Government, Corporate and Development sectors for impactful discussions and dialogue on new ideas, initiatives, strategies, and solutions to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, digitization, intra-Africa trade, investing, food security, climate action and sustainability and, ultimately, economic and social transformation in Africa.
The event features a multi-sector exhibition, workshops, the AWIEF Awards and gala dinner, and networking opportunities.
Commenting on the partnership, Janet Karemera, the CEO of Rwanda Convention Bureau, said: “The Government of Rwanda is pleased to partner with AWIEF to host the next edition of their Conference and Awards, in Kigali. This event provides a platform for the over 1,000 private sector actors, experts, policy-makers and thought-leaders to discuss issues related to Africa’s inclusive economic growth and to further advance women economic empowerment and business leadership on the continent. We look forward to delivering a successful event and offering AWIEF guests a memorable experience in Rwanda.”
AWIEF Founder and CEO, Irene Ochem, said: ““We are honoured and delighted to partner with the Ministry and RCB in what we believe will be our most dynamic and engaging conference yet.
“MINICT’s mission to address economic growth and poverty reduction through development and coordination of policies and programs related to information, technology, communication, innovation, and empowerment is closely aligned with AWIEF’s passion and purpose.
“In addition, we are excited to be working with RCB to bring our international speakers, guests, and delegates to Kigali, one of the most progressive cities in Africa right now. We are looking forward to advancing our efforts in connecting and inspiring the African entrepreneurship ecosystem in this significant hub for business, technology, and innovation.”