We support the principles and practices of the Fair Trade Movement and believe they should be adopted by small, medium, and large U.S. investors in Africa. The Fair Trade Movement promotes international trade based on economic justice. However, the same principles can and should apply to a wider range of trade and to assist small agricultural and manufacturing producers in the global marketplace. This movement embodies values and practices that should be incorporated in all trade and investment activities between the U.S. and Africa. APIC believes that special attention must be given to the vital food-producing and entrepreneurial roles of women in rural and urban African communities.
African women account for substantial amounts of production in both the informal and formal sectors.
Research has shown that women entrepreneurs not only reinvest in their businesses but also place high value on social investments in their communities. Historically, African women have engaged in international commerce and trade. These initiatives must work together in a comprehensive economic policy vision for sustainable human development. Trade and investment activities should contribute to the goals of democratization, public participation, poverty reduction, and social transformation throughout the African continent. Geography, government, economy, and other reference data.