Ms. Carole Kariuki, CEO of KEPSA, today, 17^th June 2025, met with Mrs. Leila Belkhiria Jaber, President of the Tunisian National Chamber of Women Business Leaders (CNFCE) and the COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB), accompanied by H.E. Anouar Ben Youssef, Ambassador of Tunisia to Kenya. The meeting focused on deepening regional collaboration between Kenya and Tunisia, positioning the two countries as focal points for Eastern and Northern Africa, respectively.

Discussions emphasised advancing women’s economic empowerment, trade, and investment through inclusive and sustainable partnerships. Key areas of engagement included the development of joint programs, inclusive Memoranda of Understanding, cross-border mentorship, and support for women-led enterprises. The engagement also explored broader opportunities for the private sector, with a view to fostering deeper commercial ties and expanding market access for the wider business community. This aligns with KEPSA’s commitment to driving Pan-African cooperation through strategic partnerships that benefit enterprises of all sizes and sectors.

KEPSA continues to champion inclusive economic growth and regional trade integration across Africa. In line with this commitment, recent engagements between KEPSA and Tunisia present timely opportunities for KEPSA members, particularly women-led and youth-led businesses, as well as the wider private sector, to deepen cross-border collaboration, access new markets, and expand their regional footprint.

KEPSA, in collaboration with Tunisian partners, is supporting the development of the “North Meets East” platform an initiative that promotes women’s participation in business and aims to strengthen regional linkages between Northern and Eastern Africa. This platform seeks to connect countries like Kenya and Tunisia, creating structured avenues for knowledge exchange, trade, and investment among women-led enterprises, youth entrepreneurs, and the wider business community.

With its strong foundation in mainstreaming gender in business, advancing SME development, and driving regional trade through frameworks such as the AfCFTA and COMESA, KEPSA is well-positioned to lead engagement from the Eastern region. This collaboration presents an opportunity to foster sustainable partnerships and deepen private sector cooperation, further reinforcing KEPSA’s commitment to inclusive and transformative growth across the continent.

In a recent effort to highlight women’s economic contributions, Tunisia hosted a Handicraft and Food Expo organised by the Tunisian Union of Trade and Commerce. The event featured women-led enterprises and underscored the role of women in driving intra-African trade. This strongly resonates with KEPSA’s initiatives supporting Kenyan SMEs and women entrepreneurs through trade missions, product development forums, and advocacy platforms.

The Federation of Women in Business in Tunisia, under the leadership of Mrs. Leila Belkhiria Jaber, is actively advancing economic diplomacy by forging strategic partnerships to empower women and foster regional business collaboration. KEPSA has previously engaged with Tunisian institutions during bilateral trade forums, and there is growing momentum to formalize and expand this collaboration.

This evolving partnership could unlock numerous joint programming opportunities for KEPSA members, including capacity building, B2B networking, trade exhibitions, and mentorship exchanges between Kenyan and Tunisian business leaders. A proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the CNFCE and KEPSA would serve as a strategic foundation, with a focus on promoting women- and youth-led enterprises across sectors.

COMESA is set to host a two-day conference focused on women in leadership. This platform will bring together business leaders from across the region to share best practices, policy frameworks, and success stories. KEPSA members especially those involved in advocacy, enterprise development, and leadership are encouraged to participate and expand their regional networks and visibility.

Emerging sectors with strong potential for women entrepreneurs have been identified, including beauty and cosmetics, as well as the service industry, spanning consulting, wellness, and education. These sectors offer scalable and sustainable opportunities and align with KEPSA’s drive to support inclusive business models and resilient value chains.

This growing partnership between KEPSA and Tunisian business leaders framed within the broader North–East Africa engagement presents a timely and strategic opportunity for the Kenyan private sector. KEPSA remains committed to engaging its members in cross-border initiatives that promote innovation, inclusivity, and Africa-wide economic transformation.