By Ncaba Ntshakala
Recently, the European Union (EU) in collaboration with the Kingdom’s policymakers and women entrepreneurs gathered to explore ways to support gender equality and enhance women’s participation in business through more inclusive trade policies.
This initiative was said to be part of the “Eswatini: Promoting growth through competitive alliances” program, implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the EU and the Government of Eswatini.
The program aims to support job creation and promote export-led growth, particularly through the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
The EU stated that the workshops highlighted the critical need for a supportive environment that enables women to reach their full potential in the business world.
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Discussions centered on the importance of creating policies that cater specifically to the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.
Key to these discussions was the recognition that without targeted support and inclusive policies, women cannot fully contribute to and benefit from economic activities.
Participants received training on integrating gender inclusivity into trade policy, guided by ITC’s comprehensive manual.
This training equipped policymakers and women entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools needed to ensure that trade policies are gender-responsive. This, in turn, helps to level the playing field for women in business, allowing them to compete more effectively in both local and international markets.
Director of the International Trade Department in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Trade, Lungile Dlamini remarked, “These workshops are very timely as we are in the process of revising our national trade policy.
We will use the learnings and recommendations to craft a gender-responsive trade policy.”
Again, Eva-Maria Engdahl, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to the Kingdom of Eswatini, emphasized the EU’s dedication to supporting women entrepreneurs.
“Empowering women through inclusive trade policies is not only a matter of fairness but also a crucial driver of economic growth.
The EU is committed to supporting Eswatini’s efforts to ensure that women entrepreneurs have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in the global market.
Together, we need to work hard to build a more equitable and prosperous future for all,” she said.
Several key actions were recommended during the workshops which are to advance the cause of women entrepreneurs.
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They include that there is a need for better data on women-led businesses to understand their specific needs and challenges, enhancing access to trade information and conducting gender impact assessments.
In addition, EU further viewed that the ongoing revisions to Eswatini’s national trade policies present a unique opportunity to incorporate these recommendations.
The goal is to boost the export readiness of women entrepreneurs and enable them to capitalize on opportunities arising from Economic Partnership Agreements, such as the EU-SADC EPA and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).
