Rwanda’s Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, Dr Diane Gashumba, has recently called for more funding to boost entrepreneurship activities among women.
Gashumba said limited access to finance and information, and lack of business management skills were some of the main challenges affecting growth of women-run businesses, pushing women into poverty and dependency.
She stated that an increased access to funds will give women more opportunities to expand their enterprise and flourish.
The Minister noted that funding, acquisition of skills and access to information could help build the capacity of business women, and will on the long run ensure that they participate meaningfully in the economy.
She urged women to embrace new technologies, especially in promoting and running their enterprises, arguing that ICTs could facilitate growth and ease operations.
Gashumba was last week addressing 70 business women from Gasabo, Kicukiro, and Nyarugenge districts after a two-day training in business management and customer care conducted by Tigo Rwanda.
Only 23 per cent of the total loans to individuals went to women last year compared to 77 per cent given to men, according the central bank statistics.
Speaking at the event, the President of the National Women Council Françoise Uwumukiza, stated that training women in business management and other skills, like customer service, will help improve their businesses and make them sustainable and profitable.
She called for support to vulnerable women, saying this will help improve their livelihoods and household income.
