The Netherlands embassy in Zimbabwe has continued with its results-driven community development work after making a generous donation to the Organisation of Women in International Trade, OWIT-Zimbabwe towards the successful hosting of the fourth edition of their Open Market and Exhibition Day for women owned businesses held recently in Harare
Speaking at the event, Netherlands ambassador to Zimbabwe Margret Verwijk said women empowerment was an important undertaking, especially given the many challenges that women face in growing their enterprises hence their support of the OWIT-Zimbabwe initiatives to empower, celebrate and upscale women enterprises.
“In my life as a diplomat, I have witnessed the many challenges that women face in growing businesses and I am happy that my home country the Netherlands through the local embassy has lent support to Owit-Zimbabwe to promote women-owned businesses through the Open Market Day and Exhibition,” she said.
“Women are innovative, pioneers and business people who should be supported so that they are more resilient and productive in their business pursuits. Our hope is that our partnership with OWIT-Zimbabwe will birth more women led business giants in Zimbabwe.”
Verwijk told Standard Style that women were agents of social change and were more inclined to empower their families than their male counterparts hence the need to support them more.
“Women are agents of social change and according to UN Women, women invest 90% of their income back into their families and communities while men invest back 35%,” she said.
“Women are vital to economic success and social development and its imperative that women and men must support their financial inclusion and promote women led growth.
“We must all partner to achieve women empowerment and emancipation.”
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OWIT-Zimbabwe president Buhlebenkosi Ostlea Nyathi thanked the Netherlands embassy in Zimbabwe led by Verwijk for their invaluable support to their work.
“We have great plans for women-led businesses in Zimbabwe, but we remain resource constrained in our quest to empower and upscale all women owned businesses across Zimbabwe,” Nyathi said.
“We are happy that we have partners like the Netherlands embassy who are giving their all in support of work.
“It’s the beginning of a productive and life changing partnership for our women and we are really grateful for this support.
“We had over 250 exhibitors at the Open Market Day this year and we are grateful for the success.”
According to research, development partners and government support has demonstrated that almost 50% of SMES are women-owned and its encouraging
“We must keep working hard to create the right environment to ensure women start up and grow into big businesses that trade internationally and drive empowerment hence the need for collaboration and support from partners like the Netherlands embassy in Zimbabwe,” Nyathi said.
Verwijk said women enterprise must become the norm through tailored support for women led initiatives and her embassy is working to promote trade between the Netherlands and Zimbabwe with women at the centre.
“We must create an environment where women in business are not an exception, but the norm,” she said.
“We have organisations like FEM 2020 and ZimTrade, among others who have helped connect women entrepreneurs with mentors, markets and funding opportunities
“Let us promote trade between Zimbabwe and the Netherlands with women at the centre of the action.
“We will also continue to celebrate women change makers who are inspiring change among them luminaries like Karen Mutasa, Sapi Bhachi, Divine Ndhlukula, Ellen Jabangwe and our guest of honour Minister Monica Mutsvangwa.”
As we celebrate women’s month, the hope is that women collaborate, support and inspire each other and enjoy better access to finance, networking opportunities and the necessary resources that can lead them to markets including the export market.
