By Abigail Chaponda in Liverpool, United Kingdom
Zambia’s First Lady Esther Lungu has implored African business women to endeavor to deliver quality services, grow their businesses and become productive in a bid to attract international business partnerships.
And the First Lady was on Sunday among Hundreds of Anglican Church members who attended the Service of Ordination of 14 Deacons at the Liverpool Cathedral Church in the United Kingdom.
She was accompanied to the Church Service by Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Muyeba Chikonde, his wife Musonda and senior Government officials and Diplomatic staff from the Zambian Mission.
The First Lady arrived in Liverpool, United Kingdom on Saturday to attend the SheTrades Global 2018 where she will deliver a keynote speech in her capacity as African Woman Entrepreneurs Program (AWEP) Chairperson. This is in recognition for her commitment towards strong advocacy for women empowerment.
She is leading a delegation comprising of the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), nine Zambian Business Women, UK and Geneva Commission staff and staff from the First Lady’s office.
The First Lady said the SheTrades Global 2018 is important to her because it opens a way for African business women and Zambia at large to start creating synergies through networking and looking at ways of expanding their businesses.
Over 500 women owned business and policymakers from across the world will participate in the SheTrade Global, to discuss issues around women’s economic empowerment and explore trade and investment opportunities.
The International Trade Centre, a joint agency of the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations will be hosting its flagship event SheTrade Global in Liverpool, United Kingdom from 26-28 June 2018, where the First Lady will share her wealth of experience and AWEP’s work in advocating for women’s economic interest.
“I am humbled to have been invited to come and share my experience and AWEP’s work in advocating for women’s economic interest. It is always humbling when people recognize and identify you out of the many because of the work one is doing to uplift the lives of women,” she said.
The First Lady has also thanked Zambians for being resolute in the way they conduct themselves to create a peaceful country where most investors are interested to invest.
SheTrades is an initiative by the International Trade Centre (ITC) which seeks to connect one million women entrepreneurs to market by 2020. The SheTrades agenda is motivated by the realisation that having more women in the marketplace has a positive impact on businesses in all sectors.
The global event will feature facilitated business to business meetings, keynote speeches from thought leaders, high level panels, an investment challenge aimed at promoting innovation and workshops led by industry specialists.
