The Sunday Mail
THE inaugural Zimbabwe Women’s Business Fair, which will be held at the behest of the Zimbabwe Association for Women in Industry (ZAWII), will begin on Thursday this week.
The three-day fair will begin on July 16 and will be running under the theme:“Accelerating growth of women participation in the country’s economic transformation.
It is understood that more than 500 local and international exhibitors,200 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) over 3000 local and international buyers.
Five renowned female speakers, including the Minister of Gender and Women Affairs, Mrs Nyasha Chikwinya; the chief executive officer of ABC communications, Mrs Susan Makore, will attend the event.
Chairperson of the organising committee of the business fair Ms Tariro Marime said last week there will be a three-day women’s fair.
“The fair will unite 500 exhibitors, Over 3000 local and international buyers drawn from manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, service providers and media, more than 200 SMEs involved in handcrafts and hand-made home products with solitary goal of accelerating women participation in the country’s industrial and commercial spheres through a business environment that enables non gender-based injustices.
“A one-day Women’s Winter Business Convention which will run together with the main theme will be conducted concurrently with the women business fair.
“The seriousness of the fair is in the host of country’s most successful women who are expected to share their success stories to the conventioneers and exhibitors.
“Gender Minister Mrs Nyasha Chikwinya, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BAZTECH Mrs Caroline Chirima,CEO of TRAVERSE Travel Company Mrs Zodwa Mtunzi, CEO of ABC Communications Mrs Susan Makore and Pastor Petunia Chiresere from His Presence Ministries will be among the guest speakers who are meant to inspire and encourage more women to participate in the country’s industry and commerce in a bid to vibrantly raise country’s economic visibility of women,” said Ms Marime.
Zimbabwe is in the process of actively encouraging women to participate in the mainstream economy.
Women constitute about 52 percent of the country’s population yet their role in country’s business remains trivial.
There is a great hope that this business fair will enable local women to establish linkages and exchange notes and entrepreneurship ideas with their European and Asian peers.
Ms Marime said, “The business fair is one such platform which allows ZAWII projects to provide an opportunity for women to exploit the business opportunities available through showcasing their products and services.
“We are also expecting some traders from as far as India, Pakistan, Iran and Italy among other nations; so, this presents an unrivaled opportunity for women to grow their business.
“It offers a platform for women entrepreneurs to unlock their potential through opening up of new business opportunities, markets and link up play during the three days of the fair,” said Ms Marime.
The conference will be held outside the Central Business District (CBD) to avoid traffic jamming and parking hustles
