Statistics reveal that female population comprises more than half of the total population of Ethiopia. This population needs to be given affirmation to achieve their potential capacity. They need to involve in the social, political, and economic sectors in the country. They need to involve in the social, political, and economic sectors in the country. Documents indicate the existence of various women’s business associations in Ethiopia. Ethiopian women association, Young Entrepreneur’s Association, Addis Ababa Women Entrepreneur’s Association, and Women Exporters Association are some of them. However, these associations are not working.
Merging of women’s business associations in the country is of paramount significance to the business sector, pointed out experts. Approached by The Ethiopian Herald Mrs. Achamyelesh Ashenafi, President of Addis Ababa Women Entrepreneurs Association (AAWEA), explained merging of the existing various women’s business associations would benefit the members of the association and the government as well. It would save extravagance of human and capital infrastructure, as to her. As to Achamyelesh, the associations are working for the same purpose which is empowering women.
Hence, synchronizing the association plays a paramount role in empowering women in general. Members of these associations should leave their personal interest aside and stand together in unity. “Convergence of the associations should be given priority by licensing authorities such as Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Associations and Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Having separate association with similar goal and purpose brings extra expense. It also weakens the power of the associations as well”, said Achamyelesh. Achamyelesh added that problems related to policies of the trade sector, financial problems, lack of the skill on how to do business are some of the major problems in the association. Banks including the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) need to be women friendly, she said.
The president also uncovered that AAWEA has performed well in order to empower women traders. Most of the members of the association are of small and medium enterprises and has lack of knowledge and skill of doing business. Thus, the association has been giving trainings to its members as a way out of the problem. She further added that the members are not familiar with how to manage their business. Thus, the association has been introducing simple technology, providing management and leadership trainings, and inviting its members to various promotional events to the members are the major ways solving the challenges.
For her, the reform being made by the government regarding women is appreciable. It can comprehend the fact that women are as important as men in the overall activities in the country including politics. We used to have small number of women in the politics, she noted. As to Achamyelesh, AAWEA is working to involve more women in the business sector. The number of women in the business sector is less compared to men.
Thus, the association, in collaboration with other co-working institutions, needs to work to alleviate this problem, as to her. Naturally women are endowed with the potential to be productive. They can also be productive in the business sector. We need to exploit this ability of them in the business sector. They can bring a reliable change to the sector, as to her. Afomya Biyadge, a medical equipment importer, on her part, revealed the problem with our banks as the major problem facing her in doing business.
The importers deal with the foreign companies through banks. The banks take long time to convert the Birr into foreign currencies. Thus, the importers need to wait for long to start the deal with the foreign companies, as to her. Afomya told that increasing the number of women in different government offices is appreciable. It is a good start to empower women. However, the women at the lowest level of the society still need to be given priority because they are the prime victims of the gender discrimination, pointed out Afomya.
“The bank managers need to create easy way of converting the Birr into foreign currency in a short period of time. Waiting too long for us would be challenging”, said Afomya. In nature, women are endowed with the potential to be productive. They can also be productive in the business sector. We need to exploit their ability in the business sector. They can bring a reliable change to the sector, as to her.
The Ethiopian Herald May 11/2019
BY GETAHUN LEGESSE
