23 Jun 2015

Department of Gender Affairs has sensitised ‘women in business’ about the upcoming third Northern Women Exposition scheduled for July 27 to August at BOCCIM grounds in Francistown.

The exposition is expected to draw participants from Selebi Phikwe, Francistown, North East, Chobe and North West and Central districts. Furthermore, the exposition is one of the poverty eradication strategies which targets women entrepreneurs from all over the country. The initiative aimed at empowering them.

Poverty eradication officer, Ms Olebogeng Morebodi said the expo objectives included offering women entrepreneurs, organisations and individuals an opportunity to share experiences, ideas and skills related to their products and businesses.

In addition, she said it would expose women to new products from within the country and other regions and create an opportunity for them to market their products and businesses. Ms Morebodi also indicated that the ‘Gender Affairs Department’ assists women aged 35 years and above with grants up to P250 000 to help them run and develop their businesses.

She said stakeholders like Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) and CEDA have programmes that provide guidance and teach beneficiaries the art of business and instill in them knowledge and skills on how to run a business. For her part, Ms Goitsemang Ndebele, a technical advisor from LEA urged entrepreneurs to make sure that their stalls were eye catching and products well branded.

She also urged them to inform themselves and be outstanding to grab the attention of consumers and judges. Ms Ndebele encouraged women to register with LEA for training in sales and marketing, development training and record keeping as it would help their businesses grow to meet international standards.

For his part, Mr Kabelo Tsiang, a gender officer with the Gender Affairs Department, informed women on the rules and regulations that guide participants at the expo.

He said no exhibitor shall be allowed to carry any business or trade items other than goods they deal with. Sites and stalls should be kept clean at all times and the judge’s decisions would be final, he added.

Mr Tsiang also said that exhibitors must be ready and give judges outstanding layout and design of stalls as well as cleanliness, innovation and professionalism.

Each stall is P500 and products to be showcased at the ‘Expo’ include basketry, pottery, textiles, bread and confectionery, agriculture produce, household chemicals, upholstery, crafts, fine arts, accessories, food processing and preservation, horticulture/nursery, leatherwork and beauty therapy services. Ends