LOCAL financial institutions should assist women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses as the development of the country is hinged on their efforts, a cabinet Minister said on Friday.
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development minister Monica Mutsvangwa said this at the Open Market Day and Exhibition which her ministry organised in collaboration with the Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT), Ecobank, Elevate and some women business membership organisations.
The exhibition ran under the theme, “Leaving no one and no place behind”. The open market was designed to be a platform for all women in business to network and share experiences that will assist them to improve competitiveness on the international arena.
Mutsvangwa, who was the guest speaker, said the vision of the country to become an upper middle income economy by 2030 can only be attained if financial institutions support women entrepreneurs to achieve their goals.
“Let us invest in women, and that is what we are telling all the banks. Invest in women if you want this country to be great. The success of this country as a nation will come through women’s efforts,” she said.
“If the women of this country do not do the best, then we will not achieve the vision, and our President is very clear about the fact that women are 52 percent of the population, and as such he supports us in all that we are doing.” Mutsvangwa said she was impressed by the collaboration between the OWIT and the government in promoting access of women to markets.
“The recognition of the role that women play towards national development, is known from the highest level, that is the President of this country.
The role women entrepreneurs play is very important and 60 percent of SMEs in the country are women. I am particularly impressed that the government is represented in this international platform,” she said.
Mutsvangwa said there was need to invest in women for accelerated national economic growth, adding Zimbabwe ranked fifth in Africa in terms of achieving parity. “This is according to the World Economic Forum. And globally, we sit in the 45th position. And by no way, this is no mean feat,” she said.
She said although her Ministry was not properly resourced, it would continue to work with other partners such as the private sector and development partners to ensure women projects and programs are funded. Mutsvangwa urged women to produce quality products and be compliant with the various regulations in order to compete in the market, both local and international. —New Ziana
