Women in business vital to boosting regional trade

WOMEN entrepreneurs from 10 Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries recently gathered in Botswana’s capital, Gaborone for the 4th Women in Business SADC Fair and Investment Forum (WIB-SADC Fair).

The women had a chance to exhibit and showcase their products at a forum aimed at creating business opportunities and strengthening trade cooperation in the region. The show was also a platform for the women to clinch business deals with various business agencies from different countries including Europe.According to SADC Today latest edition, businesswomen from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia and Tanzania confirmed that they had manage to clinch deals with companies from host nation, Botswana and European countries.The fair was also attended by the Botswana Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Thebe Mogami and Tanzania’s Minister for community development, gender and children, Asha-Rose Migiro.Mogami said such events were vital for championing the cause of women in the region.”We have to uphold the objectives of the investment forum which entail the promotion of intra and inter-regional trade among women and ensure economic empowerment of SADC women through the creation of opportunities for women in business,” he said.Migiro is said to have noted that the investment forum would facilitate poverty alleviation and economically empower women in the region.She also said it was important for African governments to take a lead role in financing small-scale women’s entrepreneurial activities to enable them to compete in large scale businesses.SADC Today said the significant turnout of women exhibitors involved in various business disciplines showed the determination of women to advance themselves and in turn develop the region.Meetings were also held to facilitate exchange of ideas and how to respond to common challenges.”The need to create business trust starting amongst them to enable linkages in business ventures within and outside the region was emphasised,” read the report.Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, DRC, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia were represented at the WIB-SADC Fair.Objectives of the WIB-SADC Fair are to ensure economic empowerment of women through the creation of opportunities for women in business to identify new markets and products, expose women in business to new and appropriate technologies, share ideas on the maximum exploitation and utilisation of raw materials and to promote intra-regional trade among women in business.The Fair also strives to promote partnerships and industrial co-operation for businesses with growth potential, and expose women in business to competitive participation in the global financial, technical and economic markets.The show was also a platform for the women to clinch business deals with various business agencies from different countries including Europe.According to SADC Today latest edition, businesswomen from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia and Tanzania confirmed that they had manage to clinch deals with companies from host nation, Botswana and European countries.The fair was also attended by the Botswana Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Thebe Mogami and Tanzania’s Minister for community development, gender and children, Asha-Rose Migiro.Mogami said such events were vital for championing the cause of women in the region.”We have to uphold the objectives of the investment forum which entail the promotion of intra and inter-regional trade among women and ensure economic empowerment of SADC women through the creation of opportunities for women in business,” he said.Migiro is said to have noted that the investment forum would facilitate poverty alleviation and economically empower women in the region.She also said it was important for African governments to take a lead role in financing small-scale women’s entrepreneurial activities to enable them to compete in large scale businesses.SADC Today said the significant turnout of women exhibitors involved in various business disciplines showed the determination of women to advance themselves and in turn develop the region.Meetings were also held to facilitate exchange of ideas and how to respond to common challenges.”The need to create business trust starting amongst them to enable linkages in business ventures within and outside the region was emphasised,” read the report.Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, DRC, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia were represented at the WIB-SADC Fair.Objectives of the WIB-SADC Fair are to ensure economic empowerment of women through the creation of opportunities for women in business to identify new markets and products, expose women in business to new and appropriate technologies, share ideas on the maximum exploitation and utilisation of raw materials and to promote intra-regional trade among women in business.The Fair also strives to promote partnerships and industrial co-operation for businesses with growth potential, and expose women in business to competitive participation in the global financial, technical and economic markets.