Government is set to introduce incentives for women entrepreneurs to enter the business process outsourcing (BPO) arena, says Nonhlanhla Mjoli-Mncube, president of the South African Women Entrepreneurs' Network (Sawen) and economic advisor to the deputy president.
Mjoli-Mncube was addressing over 600 entrepreneurs and aspirant businesswomen at Sawen's annual general meeting (AGM) in Sandton yesterday.
The AGM was part of two-day conference that was hosted alongside the Technology for Women in Business (TWIB) initiative's 2006 annual conference and awards ceremony.
Mjoli-Mncube argued that, enabled by technology, local women would be able to provide back-office services for international, as well as local companies, adding SA offers numerous business opportunities for women in the BPO arena.
Entrepreneurs should also look at government initiatives to bring ICT to rural communities, as there are opportunities to sub-contract to government, she says.
Mjoli-Mncube would not elaborate on what government's incentive packages would entail. She urged delegates to look around their communities and identify opportunities where they could provide helpful services and make money at the same time. "We cannot expect government to do everything," she said.
Trade and industry deputy minister Elizabeth Thabethe cautioned members that while Sawen provides support and a networking framework for entrepreneurs, it is not a funding institution.
Members will have to be proactive in raising the finance for their businesses, she said.
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