The African Businesswomen’s Network (ABWN) has been launched at the World Economic Forum.

Exxon Mobil Corporation and Vital Voices Global Partnership have launched the African Businesswomen’s Network (ABWN) at the World Economic Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.

The two organisations joined with local businesswomen’s organisations throughout Africa to announce the launch - which has network hubs already underway in Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda.

The ABWN aims to build and support a network of businesswomen’s organisations in Africa to expand the number of women succeeding as entrepreneurs and leaders in the corporate world; to raise the profile and credibility of women in business; to foster global networking opportunities among businesswomen; and to advocate for policies that expand economic opportunity for women.

Rex W. Tillerson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ExxonMobil, said: “Women entrepreneurs are vital to reducing poverty and driving economic growth in Africa.

“ExxonMobil is proud to support the Africa Businesswomen’s Network to stimulate the invaluable knowledge-sharing, networking and collective action that will enable women business leaders to join forces to unleash the untapped economic potential of other African women and ultimately fuel greater economic growth.”

Alyse Nelson, President and COO of Vital Voices – a non-governmental organization (NGO) that identifies, trains, and empowers emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the globe, said: “The ABWN will address some of the unique barriers women entrepreneurs face, including negative and unsupportive policy and social environments; poor access to input and output markets and technologies; and inadequate access to information.

“The launch of the ABWN is a testament to the incredible potential of female entrepreneurs to effect positive social and economic change in Africa, and the integral role companies like ExxonMobil can play in supporting women’s economic opportunities.”

Exxon Mobil Corporation and ExxonMobil Foundation, the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States, engage in a range of activities that advance education, health, women’s economic leadership and public policy in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations.

Recognising the integral role that women play as drivers of economic and social change, in 2005 ExxonMobil launched the Educating Women and Girls Initiative, which provides training, resources and support networks to help women in developing countries fulfill their economic potential.