The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Securities Exchange South Africa and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) entered into a joint venture on Tuesday to establish a South African Women’s Enterprise Network (Sawen), to mobilise and engage women in initiatives to strengthen and support their own enterprises.
The DTI and JSE have agreed to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the purpose of establishing the Sawen network. The parties will co- operate and assist each other in the areas of training and the sharing of information to make the Sawen initiative a successful venture.
“With 53% of its staff, a number of senior managers and executive directors being women, the JSE is very supportive of the DTI’s Sawen initiative. Women are starting to find their feet in business, and this initiative will help guide and focus their efforts,” said JSE deputy chief executive officer Nicky Newton-King.
DTI deputy minister Lindiwe Hendriks said: “I believe that equality in South African business will never be fully achieved if women do not understand the workings of stock, commodity and bond markets, the operations of the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa and how to engage with these markets and institutions. The signing of the MOU between Sawen, which represents thousands of businesswomen across the country, and the JSE, which manages these markets, is therefore significant.”
The MOU outlines the need for women entrepreneurs to receive training in these areas and commits the JSE to offering such training.
The leadership of Sawen will ensure that women entrepreneurs are informed about such training and that it is coordinated with the education unit of the JSE to take place regularly.
Also tabled in the MOU is the JSE’s offer of their facilities for Sawen meetings. – I-Net Bridge