Women entrepreneurs from Rwanda and Mauritius have agreed on a new partnership that could open bigger business opportunities for women across Africa. The agreement will allow Mauritian investors to support women-owned businesses in Rwanda while both sides work together to enter regional and international markets through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The partnership was announced on Monday, May 18, 2026, during a meeting between women business leaders from Mauritius and Rwanda in Kigali. The event is part of the three-day SheTrades Hub-to-Hub Collaboration Mission, a program created to strengthen cooperation, share business knowledge, and encourage investment between African women entrepreneurs.
For many women attending the event, the meeting was more than just business discussions. It became a source of inspiration and hope.
One of the Rwandan entrepreneurs, Olive Ingabire, said she was deeply encouraged after hearing success stories from women in Mauritius who started small businesses years ago and are now exporting products to countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia.
“I have seen that a woman can achieve great things if she dares, Our Mauritian sisters started in 2012 and are now exporting to the UK, Australia and beyond. We too can take our products to other countries, including Mauritius. Their stories showed us that African women can compete globally if they are given opportunities and if they believe in themselves.” Ingabire said.
Ingabire also said Rwandan women entrepreneurs learned important lessons about digital marketing and online promotion from the Mauritian delegation.
“Mauritian women market their businesses exceptionally well on social media, That is something we must learn because sometimes you can have a good product, but people around you do not even know about it. Visibility is very important in today’s business world.” she explained
Officials from both countries said the partnership is designed to create long-term cooperation instead of short-term business visits.
Thérèse Sekamana from the Rwanda Private Sector Federation (PSF) explained that Mauritian companies will work directly with existing Rwandan women-owned businesses instead of opening separate companies in Rwanda.
“Each Mauritian company will partner with a Rwandan one, they are not coming to set up their own companies but to collaborate with Rwandan women who already have businesses. We will also sign an MoU to ensure long-term cooperation and sustainable partnerships.” Sekamana said
Meanwhile, Nirmala Jeetah, who leads the SheTrades Mauritius Hub, described Rwanda as a country full of opportunities in innovation, trade, and investment.
“This mission shows our commitment to support Mauritian women entrepreneurs to go beyond their traditional markets and build lasting business partnerships across Africa,Rwanda offers great opportunities in innovation, investment and trade, and we believe women entrepreneurs can play a major role in Africa’s economic transformation.” Jeetah said.
The SheTrades initiative was launched by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with global trade organizations to help women entrepreneurs access international markets, investment opportunities, and export training. Rwanda launched its SheTrades Hub in 2021, while Mauritius followed in 2023.
As African countries continue to promote trade within the continent, the partnership between Rwandan and Mauritian women entrepreneurs is being seen as a strong example of how women-led businesses can help drive Africa’s economic growth.
