The Comoros Business Fair BIK 2023 (Salon des Entreprises) took place in Moroni, Comoros from the 6th of June to the 8th of June 2023 organized by the National Agency for the Promotion of Investments (ANPI).
The three-day annual forum and business fair featured government representatives, startups, MSMEs, large companies, foreign investors, the EU delegation and other international delegations from Africa and Europe. This second edition featured different panel discussions, workshops on various topics like regional integration and investment, tripartite partnerships between investors, governments and financial institutions, and Team Europe Initiative: Investing in Young African Business and brought together 200 exhibitors, 100 speakers, over 50 startups, and over 10000 visitors and trade buyers across from the Comoros and other countries.
The event was held under the high patronage of His Excellency Azali Assoumani president of the Comoros and the current Chairperson of the African Union. The main objective of this fair was to promote business development and encourage investment in the different regions of the Comoros. Exhibitors presented their products and services, innovations, and the latest market trends, while participants took part in conferences and workshops during the three days.
Jointly with the APILE project, BIC Africa had a stand and as such exhibited BIC Africa’s overall project activities and the objectives of the regional network, as well as information about the related country projects during the three days. On the third and final day of the fair Dawit Dagnew, Communication Manager of BIC Africa at EBN presented BIC Africa’s services and the state of play at a high-level event, which was organized by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Madagascar and the Union of the Comoros with the aim to present the Team Europe Initiatives Invest in Young Businesses Africa (TEI IYBA) and other initiatives at national level in support of women and youth entrepreneurship in particular. In addition, Dawit Dagnew met and discussed with the Comorian business incubators participating in the APILE Industrie and received the three entrepreneurs participating in this year’s BIC Africa acceleration programme for women entrepreneurs and learn more about their business, challenges to ensure BIC Africa provides them with the best support and exchange with other participants, share experiences, discover new opportunities and network with the project partners.
We were pleased about the lively interest in our project and had very interesting conversations and made great new contacts on how to work together towards supporting and strengthening the innovation ecosystem in Comoros through business incubators to drive innovative start-ups across, focusing on youth and women. A special highlight was certainly the official announcement about Comoros joining the regional network, BIC Africa, through the APILE project funded by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Madagascar and the Union of the Comoros and implemented by UNIDO and ITC. It truly felt like one big African-European team.
The BIK 2023 Business Fair creates a unique opportunity for private sector actors to meet, exchange and share ideas on market trends, innovations, and investment opportunities in the different regions of the Comoros.
We are very proud that we took part in the BIK 2023 Business Fair in Moroni, Comoros. Many thanks to everyone who attended our presentation and visited us at our stand.
