The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Bongi Maria Ntuli will deliver a keynote address at the two-day South African Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (SAWEN) National Conference that will take place at the Regent Hotel in East London from 27 to 28 October 2010. Eastern Cape Premier, Noxolo Kiviet and provincial MEC of Finance Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, Jonas Mcebisi, and the Mayor of Buffalo City, Zukisa Faku, will also attend the conference, which includes a gala dinner where SAWEN will be re-launched.
Approximately five hundred businesswomen, including members of the interim SAWEN National Advisory Council will attend the event. The Council was established by Deputy Minister Ntuli in April this year to replace the Board of Directors and Provincial Chairpersons of SAWEN. The conference is part of the efforts by Ntuli to reposition SAWEN and reinstitute it as a fully fledged programme of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) as per its original mandate that prioritises women associations.
“The programme will assist and strengthen women associations and enhance their representation in key decision-making structures in the economy as well as articulate their aspirations in industry and small business circles in South Africa. Essentially, SAWEN will act as a principal representative of women on business, research, access to resources, and markets, as well as general leadership matters,” said Head of Gender and Women Empowerment at the dti, Bongi Ludidi.
She added that significant progress has already been registered in the repositioning process to ensure that SAWEN achieves its objectives. In addition to the Interim Advisory Council that has been established, the founding principles, programme of action and affiliation model have been shared with various stakeholders.
The highlight of the conference will be the unveiling of the new image of SAWEN by Deputy Minister Ntuli, as well as the signing of the affiliation Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and other women business organisations.
Women entrepreneurs attending the conference will also learn more about the dti’s strategy on women’s economic empowerment, as well as financial and non-financial support that various government departments and agencies are providing. These include Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Rural Development and Land Reform, and Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), as well as the Innovation and Technology and Cooperatives units of the dti. They will also have an opportunity to give their input on the founding principles (Constitution) of SAWEN.
Source: Department of Trade and Industry
