Meeting to sharpen Women’s skills in Bussiness held in Hargeisa

Women entrepreneurs are meeting in Hargeisa to explore strategies that would see them step up their participation in business across the region.

Goobjoog News correspondent says this conference on women provides a platform for engagement to address the challenges and opportunities for accelerating inclusion of women in entrepreneurship.

The one-day event is set to encourage women to capitalise on the regional strategy for promoting women in socio-economic development, financial access for women, as well as mentorship opportunities.

The women are set to achieve the milestones through training on product development, creating networks, as well as leveraging on technology to boost their enterprises regionally.

The forum brings together the private sector, non-governmental organisations, women entrepreneurship associations, among other entities with a view to sharpen women skills on leadership and business.

“Empowering women is not philanthropy, it is not charity. It simply is smart politics and smart economics,” said Somaliland’s minister environment,  Shukri Bandare Ismail.

Ismail said that it is impossible to implement effective programmes for socio-economic development without allowing the full participation of women.

“We are free to show the rest of the world that we can do it on our own, and in doing so, we shall achieve long-term, sustainable change and attract passionate women and men in the marketplace,” said Ismail.

Somaliland’s Women Affairs minister,  Shukri Harir who attended the meeting has  urged partner states to adopt policies that seek to empower women in business such as 30 per cent access to government tenders.

“Achieving gender equality is more than 50-50 representation. It also about recognising and respecting the rights of women, offering them equal opportunities to participate in the socio-economic and political development of their countries,”   said Harir.