Network Conference
27 September 2007
More than 500 businesswomen from across the country are expected to attend
the third annual conference and Annual General Meeting of the South African
Women Entrepreneurs' Network (Sawen) that will take place at Gallagher Estate
in Midrand, Gauteng from 4 to 5 October 2007.
The theme of this year's conference, which will be opened by the Deputy
Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe, is "Women Entrepreneurs
towards a shared Economic Growth". President Thabo Mbeki has been invited to
deliver a keynote address on the role of women entrepreneurs in ensuring the
shared growth of the South African economy.
According to the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sawen, and Head of
Gender and Women Empowerment at the Department of Trade and Industry Batho
Matiwane, the conference will provide attending businesswomen with more details
about the Women Entrepreneurs Fund that will be launched before the end of the
year.
"As an organisation, Sawen is entering a new era. It is on the verge of
becoming a fully-fledged agency of the Department Trade and Industry and will
take its rightful place in the Council of the Trade and Industry Institutions
(COTII). A national office is being set up, following the establishment of
provincial offices in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The
establishment of the Women Entrepreneurs Fund will be welcomed by businesswomen
because of their current problems with accessing finance," says Matiwane.
She adds that the Fund aims to accelerate women's economic empowerment by
providing more affordable, usable and responsive finance than is currently
available to women entrepreneurs.
Sawen president, Doctor Anna Mokgokong says despite the organisation's
successes over the past year, there are still challenges.
"These will be addressed at the conference and appropriate measures will be
identified and prioritised to address these challenges in the interest of
empowering our businesswomen. Some of the organisation's major success included
establishing proper governance structures, publishing a businesswomen's
directory and trade missions to India, Vietnam, Germany, Uganda and the
Netherlands," says Doctor Mokgokong.
Doctor Mokgokong is an Executive Chairperson of Community Investment
Holdings. She joined the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World (LWEW) in
1998. She will be addressing the conference on "Twelve years on: challenges
faced by South African women entrepreneurs".
Sawen is a networking forum for individuals and organisations committed to
promoting women entrepreneurs. The national network facilitates and monitors
the socio-economic advancement of women entrepreneurs and their positive impact
on the country's economy.
Sawen has wide membership ranging from op corporate executives to emerging
entrepreneurs. It is a national vehicle that brings women together and
addresses their challenges, and lobbies government, public and private
institutions on the economic empowerment of women. Sawen also facilitates
access to business resources, information and opportunities for South African
women entrepreneurs to promote their effective participation in the mainstream
economy.
Other speakers at the conference will include acclaimed television
personality and prominent businesswoman Basetsana Khumalo, Whiphold
chairperson, Gloria Serobe, and Lawrence Mavundla from African Co-operative for
Hawkers and Informal Businesses (ACHIB).
The first day of the Sawen conference will culminate in a Technology for
Women in Business (TWIB) Gala Dinner Awards Ceremony.
For reservations please contact the following persons before 26 September
2007:
Granny Balepile
Tel: 012 394 1306
Fax: 012 394 2306
E-mail: kbalepile@thedti.gov.za
Khutso Sithole
Tel: 012 394 1657
Fax: 012 394 2657
E-mail: ksithole@thedti.gov.za
Martin Lebea
Tel: 012 394 1602
Fax: 012 394 2602
E-mail: mlebea@thedti.gov.za
Jessica Sibuyi
Tel: 012 394 1606
Fax: 012 394 2606
E-mail: jsibuyi@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
27 September 2007
Source: Department of Trade and Industry (http://www.dti.gov.za)
