Scotland Africa Women in Business: Driving Inclusive Growth in Global Trade

As Scotland-London Africa Week draws nearer, the Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA) is proud to host Scotland Africa Women in Business — a powerful conclusion to a week dedicated to collaboration, insight and opportunity.

The event will bring together leading women from across Scotland, the wider UK and Africa to explore how inclusive trade can unlock economic potential on both sides. Designed to inspire, inform and connect, the session will highlight success stories, tackle barriers and chart practical routes for women to scale internationally, access finance and form lasting commercial partnerships.

SABA’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) is at the heart of this initiative. Our board itself reflects this with women making up 60%, representing diverse professional backgrounds and global perspectives. We know that inclusive leadership isn’t just a statement of intent; it’s a driver of performance, innovation and sustainable growth.

Recent research underlines why this work matters. The Gender Export Gap report, commissioned by the Scottish Government and published in February 2025, revealed that only 15% of women-led SMEs engage in exporting — up to 9% fewer than male-led businesses. Closing this gap could boost Scotland’s trade by an estimated £3.4 to £10.3 billion over two years.

SABA is determined to be part of the solution. Through platforms like Scotland Africa Women in Business, we’re helping to turn the tide — connecting women entrepreneurs to new markets, highlighting success stories and creating practical opportunities to trade and collaborate.

By putting DEI at the centre of international engagement, Scotland can demonstrate global leadership in how trade is done; not just by opening doors, but by ensuring everyone has the chance to walk through them.

This year’s event is a call to action for policymakers, investors and the private sector alike: to champion inclusive trade, strengthen global partnerships and ensure women are at the forefront of Scotland’s international success story.

For more information about Scotland London Africa Week click here: www.africascot.com/event-details/scotland-london-africa-week-2025

For more information about the Scotland Africa Women in Business event click here: www.africascot.com/event-details/scotland-africa-women-in-business