Turkey empowers South African Women Entrepreneurs

1 October 2021

Dynamic and enterprising women gathered in Pretoria to receive awards after completing a week-long training course. The course was designed and driven by Jayshree Padayatchey from Shakti Empowerment in partnership with TIKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency) and SEDA (Small Enterprise Development Agency).

It is a well-known fact that small business is the backbone of any economy contributing to many aspects of a country’s growth and wellbeing. With unemployment in South Africa hitting a record high of 34.4% in the second quarter of 2021 according to a report by Stats SA, it is a no-brainer that all spheres of the South African government should be actively promoting and enabling entrepreneurship, easing the way business is conducted.

Many of the entrepreneurs at the ceremony attested to the value they received at the week-long workshop which specifically targeted women-owned and driven manufacturing enterprises from Gauteng, the Northwest and Free State provinces. They said that they were exposed to practical training that they could immediately implement, that enhanced their way of doing business, and that spurred growth. The targeted training brought in experts from various fields to share their valuable knowledge experience.

Addressing the entrepreneurs Ambassador designate of Turkey to South Africa, Ayşegül Kandaş said that women’s energy makes this a better place. She said that having arrived in South Africa less than three months ago she is committed to projects like these, projects that empower women. If the end result of such projects is increased bilateral trade between Turkey and South Africa, that would be success, said Kandaş.

The event lent the opportunity for the entrepreneurs to showcase their products and to network.

As more South Africans dare to enter the entrepreneurial space and stimulate job creation, the future looks bright indeed.

by Anisha Pemjee