adminDaisy Jeremani Gender Editor
THE Zimbabwe International Trade Fair offers women from different sectors of the economy an opportunity to share notes and interact with potential investors.A good number of women are participating at this year’s trade showcase, which began in Bulawayo yesterday.
The deputy director in the Department of Women’s Affairs, Wisdom Karonga said their stand had received a lot of enquiries from women on how they could acquire skills on running businesses across all sectors.
“They want to expand their business like cross border trading and farming,” he said.
Karonga said some women also wanted to buy products from the stand but were referred to the originators of the products so that they could strike deals after the fair.
She said others needed to know the opportunities that exist in the value chains in various sectors and how best they could tap them.
“There’s been a lot of interaction among women as they shared ideas on how to venture into new business,” Karonga said.
“We’re pleased to note that our objective of exposing them to new markets and tapping knowledge from their counterparts is being realised.”
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development provincial development officer, Vaidah Mashangwa said many people were interested in garment and processed food products from the various stalls that are housed at the ministry’s stand in Hall Three.
Getrude Ndebele, an exhibitor said she was happy with the enquiries coming from visitors and fellow exhibitors.
“We still have a few more days to go and we hope to see more people coming to enquire and hopefully we will be able to strike lucrative deals,” she said.
Another exhibitor, Busi Chitewe, who was showcasing her small company that manufactures baby diapers and processed foods, said although they were still making the nappies on a small scale they wished to grow the business.
Her machine does the diapers in four different sizes, small; medium, large and extra large.
The machine is operated manually.
“We make our products from organically grown foods and these range from tomato paste, peanut butter, marinades and sauces,” Chitewe said.
The company is still making inroads into wider markets and will soon be selling their products to bigger shops. “Funds permitting we would want to take our products to bigger shops so that we can grow,” she said.
Online Reporter