MEC for Finance, Ms Ina Cronjé has thrown the gauntlet on women to ensure that they take advantage of the business opportunities created by government to ensure that they develop themselves.
MEC Cronjé was speaking at a women-packed International Convention Centre today during two-day Women in Business Conference organized by eThekwini Municipality. The purpose of the conference was to motivate women and unpack economic opportunities available to them as well as address problems of access to finance for those wanting to go into business.
The conference was addressed by women heavyweights which include Deputy Minister of Department of Trade and Industry, Ms Maria Ntuli, the newly appointed MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ms Nomusa Dube, MEC for Human Settlement and Public Works, Ms Maggie Govender and various women CEOs, Executives and Board members of different companies in the province.
Cronjé said we are meeting at a time when the economy is very tough, but we need to seize the opportunities even in these tough times.
“We need more women in the boardroom and dilute the currently male dominated boards. We leave in the developmental state and the government has to be pro-active in addressing these imbalances,” she said.
She said there are still not enough women at the top and that there is a need for a focus on women at the lowest levels.
“The preferential procurement system works for companies run by women as they get bonus points enabling them to get jobs in government. The government is prepared to give businesswomen an opportunity to work with it in developing this country,” said Cronjé.
She challenged those business women who get tenders from government to deliver quality service to make a statement that women are not any less capable, but can be as effective and efficient as men. She said this entails, inter alia, training and capacity building.
“Establish Co-operatives. Think about growing your businesses, think about exporting as another way of reaching a bigger foreign market,” she said.
She said that generally access to finance is often an obstacle for many women wanting to go into business, but a lot still has to be done to ensure that this is resolved.
The Deputy City Manager for Sustainable Development, Xabiso Mahlawe, said the conference is about motivation, interaction and growing together for women. This is especially so as we face the global economic meltdown. The conference itself celebrates women, we keep each other motivated to play our active role in promoting the development of this province and country. The conference itself is meant to kick start the Women’s Month, August.
“As a municipality, we have a programme called, Women in Business through which we want to elevate the support we give to women,” she said.
For more information, contact:
Musa Cebisa
Tel: 071 687 8777
Issued by: Department of Finance, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
31 July 2009
