Sana Zaal Burgan, founder of a business that caters to international "medical tourism" clients seeking treatment in Jordan, won the inaugural UNCTAD Women in Business Award at a ceremony Monday at the UNCTAD XII quadrennial conference in Accra, Ghana.  Ms. Burgan's firm, called Med Grant, was begun with US$3,000 and is now worth an estimated $450,000.
She received the prize from Tarja Halonen, President of Finland.

Second place went to Sapphira Nyabunwa of Uganda, whose firm, Safi Cleaning Services Ltd., based in the capital of Kampala, provides professional cleaning services, has 800 employees around the country, and realizes a monthly turnover of US$88,000.

Third prize was awarded to Augustine E. Hammond of Ghana, whose business, Jem Afrik Creations Ltd., designs and produces afro-ethnic clothing ranging from casual wear to business apparel to evening dresses.  It began with a single employee in 1986 and now has 55 permanent employees and 15 trained and mentored workers who have set up their own businesses and function as subcontractors.

The awards consist of study tours to selected institutions where innovation is strongest in the domains relevant to the winning businesses. Depending upon the specific needs of the firms involved, the prizes may be used for participation in training, seminars, or networking events.
• First prize is a a study tour worth US$ 6,000.
• Second prize is a study tour worth US$ 3,000
• And third prize is a study tour worth US$ 1,500.
The tours will be organized by UNCTAD in collaboration with the African Technology Development Forum (ATDF).  ATDF is a non-governmental organization located in Geneva, Switzerland, that promotes the exchange and dissemination of information on inventions, technology, business opportunities, and trends in global trade.
The 2008 Women in Business Awards are intended to be the first of a annual series.

Accra , 21 April 2008