Women Empowerment Will Feature High On AU Chairship Agenda – Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa

At the end of the week, I will travel to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia for the African Union summit at which South Africa will assume chairship of our continental organisation for the next year.
 
We plan to use this great responsibility, among other things, to promote the economic empowerment of the women of Africa.
 
There has never been a better time to do so. With the African Continental Free Trade Area coming into operation this year, we have an opportunity to ensure that women and women-owned businesses are able to meaningfully benefit from what will be the world’s largest common market for goods and services.
 
Just as there can be no real gender equality without economic emancipation for women, so too there can be no sustainable economic growth for any country unless women are full and equal participants.
 
South Africa’s chairship coincides with