Story by Owen Mandovha
GOVERNMENT is making huge strides in promoting women’s participation in export growth through a combination of programmes including ZimTrade’s Next She-Exporter programme to inculcate women owned businesses .
The Next She-Exporter programme has been a success in roping in several women entrepreneurs to export their products and this Friday several female entrepreneurs were awarded for their outstanding contribution.
It is a programme designed to incubate women owned businesses in export trade and break barriers commonly associated with making inroads in export trade.
“We have seen many women taking part in the programme and this has realised several benefits in terms of equipping them with information to venture into the export market. This programme has realised a lot of successes since it was launched as more women are now into the export market,” said Mr Allan Majuru, Chief Executive Officer, Zimtrade
Empowering women in business has been a cornerstone in government gender balance policy framework which has witnessed an emerging crop of successful female business owners in contributing to national economic development.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Hon David Musabayana said, “The National Exports Growth Strategy seeks to achieve a 10 percent annual exports growth and that feat can be achieved if all stakeholders in exports trade are empowered. The Next She-Exporter programme is one of the interventions which seeks to ensure that woman participate fully to grow the country’s exports.”
“The Ministry takes priority in ensuring the maximum participation of women in business to balance opportunities presented to woman. The Next She- Exporter by Zimtrade presents a perfect example of how the drive torwards woman emancipation and empowerment is being championed by Government,” said Hon Jeniffer Mhlanga, Deputy Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small To Medium Enterprises.
In its various trade promotion missions conducted in different parts of the world, Zimtrade ensures that it includes as part of its delegation, a team to showcase in trade fairs including the recently held Fruit Logistica Trade fair which was held in Germany.