GEORGE NEWS - The Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) in the Western Cape hosted a seminar for businesswomen to observe International Women's Day on Thursday 8 March at Bygracealone venue near George.
International Women's Day is a worldwide annual event with a human rights theme, highlighting the social, economic, cultural and political achievements and contributions made by women.
The day also sees demonstrations and protests aiming to further gender equality. In some areas, the day has become an occasion to express appreciation for women in general, similar to Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.
In many (mostly Eastern) countries the day is a public holiday.
Seda hosted the event to celebrate the success of women in business, to look at their challenges and to find ways of addressing those challenges.
About 80 women in business attended the event. It was also attended by other SMME industry players such as George Business Chamber, Enterprise Unit of Absa, Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa) and Thembalethu Business Chamber.
Seda Western Cape manager Alex T Qunta (right) with the chairperson of Thembalethu Business Chamber of Commerce Richard Shumi.
Addressing the audience, Alex T Qunta, Seda Western Cape manager said, "Seda looks to women entrepreneurship as a critical driver of growth and job creation. But if efforts to encourage and support these women are to succeed, we need to move beyond focusing on informal sector survivalist enterprises and understand more about what drives success in the formal sector.
"It is these women entrepreneurs whose efforts are likely to have the much-needed impact, in terms of wealth creation, economic growth, and innovation."
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