Economic empowerement for local women will once again take centre stage next week during the 13th National Women’s Expo which will be held under the theme: ‘Empowering Women Entrepreneurs; Key to sustainable Economic Development.

POSITIVE: Vaencia Mogegeh

The expo will run from Monday to Saturday.
In a speech read on her behalf by the Director of Women’s Affairs, Vaencia Mogegeh Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs Deputy Permanent Secretary’s Kelebogile Kgabi said the event was an important date in their callender because it is the time they focus on one of the major ways of the Economic Empowerment of Women.

“Over the years, the ministry of Labour and Home Affairs through the department of Women’s Affairs, has adopted different strategies to reduce poverty among women in this country as well as to address disparities that exist between women and men in the trade and economic spheres.

“The first strategy involves disbursement of financial grants to women to start income generating projects with a view to sustaining their livelihoods,” she said.
Kgabi further stated that the ministry initiated the annual expo in order to nurture the business women especially by linking them with the market. She said they also sponsored women to participate in other fairs and exhibitions including outside the country.

Speaking on the benefits of the fair she said they were manifested through women who had graduated from micro level to international standards.
She added; “This year we will have some testimonies of women whose businesses have grown as a result of their participation in the Exposition. These testimonies are expected to motivate young and up-coming women entrepreneurs.”

Starting with just 70 participants in 2000, the fair has experienced a fair amount of growth with more than 200 exhibitors now taking part each year.

Mogegeh-WAf