20 Jun 2018

Government funds women to start income generating projects and facilitates them to access markets, says Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Dorcas Makgato.

She also said the women’s exposition gave women the opportunity to display their talents and sell their products.

Speaking at a press briefing to mark the 19th Women’s National Exposition, Ms Makgato said the exposition gave women the opportunity to interact with the public and understand how they could better market their products to earn a living.

The exposition will be held under the theme: Entrepreneurs development, Key to transforming women’s lives, and it will run from June 25 to 1 July at Fairgrounds Holdings.

The expo is open to all female entrepreneurs at all levels of business as well as those producing goods for subsistence and consumption.

Ms Makgato noted that apart from promoting awareness of women’s enterprises, the exposition would increase their marketability and provide women with the opportunity to network.

“The exposition provides an opportunity to forge links for partnerships with the formal sector and networking among women entrepreneurs,” she said.

She also noted that the expo would offer women entrepreneurs, organisations and individuals an opportunity to share experiences, exchange ideas and skills.

“It will also expose women to new products from other regions and areas within the country and through demonstrations, to learn how to produce them to diversify their businesses using locally available materials and resources,” she noted.

She urged all to support government efforts in the economic empowerment of women in cognisant of the fact that women were the engine of all economies, including Botswana.

The National Women Exposition was introduced with only 70 exhibitors and it has since grown to the current 350 exhibitors, including the northern women expo. ENDS