Ramaphosa: A Women’s Economic Assembly to be launched this month

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a number of measures and interventions in support of advancing women in the country, including the start of a Women’s Economic Assembly, which is scheduled for later in August.

Ramaphosa delivered his official Women’s Day address on Monday, 9 August 2021.

While he didn’t give much detail about this Assembly, the president said it would be aimed at identifying the supply chain opportunities for women-owned businesses in key industries such as steel, automotive and energy sectors.

“Work is underway to develop a financial inclusion policy to address the barriers experienced by women-owned businesses and low-income earners to access credit, to also access grants and other financial transactions,” Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa speaks on pro-women economic measures

With the COVID-19 pandemic still a global health problem, President Cyril Ramaphosa said women have been the ones hit hardest, particularly by the economic repercussions.

“When growth at the economic level stalls, when development is halted and when the economy loses jobs, we know that it is women who bear the brunt disproportionately. The social and economic relief measures we implemented last year provided much needed support to women workers, small business owners and grant recipients”

Ramaphosa said they are working on ensuring that women benefit from the most recent relief measures and from government’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan as they have not been able to bounce back as much as their male counterparts (in terms of income and employment)

He added that the commitment towards the empowerment of women in the country has been matched by the commitment to advancing the position of women on the African continent.

“We are working to ensure that the Protocol on Women in Trade enables the effective participation of African women in the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement. We are working to ensure that women and young people are well represented at the Intra-Africa Trade Fair, which we will host in November,” Ramaphosa said.