By: Lloyd M’bwana
The incorporation of the country’s National Association of Business women (NABW) as a national chapter for Federation of National Association of Women in Business in Eastern and Southern Africa (FEMCOM) is a recipe for economic opportunity booming among Malawian women with better markets for their products.
The development is an up call for Malawian women in small and medium business and entrepreneurships to capitalize markets ventures the incorporation of NABW will bring which might enhance also the country’s economic growth.
In an exclusive interview with The Maravi Post after officially branded NABW as FEMCOM national chapter in the capital Lilongwe, Katherine Ichoya, FEMCOM’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) implores Malawian women to take advantage of the initiatives by developing
business plans which are bankable for Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region’s financial institution consideration.
Ichoya hinted that the initiative will provide a formidable linkages among COMESA member states women in business which Malawi might explore its opportunities for better markets of their products.
“By declaring NABW as FEMCOM national chapter in Malawi, is a recipe for business ventures among women in 19 COMESA countries. Malawian women will be able to sale their products in others countries within the region with already prepared markets.
“We want young Malawian women who have just graduated from colleges and universities to ventures into entrepreneurship and business not always thinking of working in offices because the sector has been proven to be rewarding and very accommodative for everyone.
“Agriculture is a core focus of FEMCOM as it most COMESA countries economic growth depends on which might always encouraged. Women should be involved into valued added chain business in agriculture products. This will be necessitated through the branding of NABW as a national chapter for FEMCOM in Malawi”, assures Ichoya.
Minister of Gender Patricia Kaliati who graced the occasion expressed gratitude for the timely intervention on women economic empowerment saying their lives will never be the same with materialization of the initiative.
Echoing on the same, Towera Jalakasi, NABW’s Chairperson assured Malawian women of turning the business into economic fortunes by appealing to them of using the initiative for their products market which her organization has been looked for long time.
Federation of National Association of Women in Business in Eastern and Southern Africa (FEMCOM) is a COMESA institution, established in July 1993 with endorsement of the Authority made up of Heads of State and Governments of the COMESA member states, under Article 55 of the COMESA Treaty.
FEMCOM has national chapters in all 19 COMESA member states namely Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
It develops women entrepreneurship in the COMESA region and beyond through programmes that promote, encourage and serve the needs of women and their businesses working in smart collaboration with relevant partners.
