City hosts Women in Business, connecting corporate leaders with rising entrepreneurial stars

04 September 2023

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, and Enver Duminy, the CEO of Cape Town Tourism, the City’s Official Destination Marketing Organisation, closed August with the hosting of its second high-level roundtable with some of the metro’s biggest corporate leaders together with rising entrepreneurial stars, with the theme this month being Women in Business. The previous session focused on the green economy.

'Research indicates that women are more likely to engage in activities in industries that enhance job creation, meaning that women's entrepreneurship is critical to boosting the country's economy. The United Nations also reports that women reinvest 90% of their income in the health and education of their children and the wider community, compared to only 35% reinvested by men. In other words, women invest more of their own incomes into the future. I am fully committed to supporting the development of women across all industries,' said Alderman Vos.

Women entrepreneurs across a range of industries attended the event, including boat-building, clothing and textiles, tourism, tech, and call centres. 

Cape Town Tourism CEO, Enver Duminy, said the series of events would have far-reaching positive outcomes.

'In a world where diversity and inclusion are integral to success, this serves as a platform to celebrate the achievements of leaders across various sectors, while also fostering an environment where knowledge and experience can be shared freely. Our city has always been a hub of creativity and ambition, and these events reinforce our dedication to nurturing talent and propelling tourism businesses to new heights. The stories of triumph, the exchange of wisdom, and the forging of connections will create a ripple effect that extends far beyond these gatherings. Cape Town is a city where aspirations turn into realities and by harnessing the power of diverse voices, we can navigate the ever-evolving landscape with resilience,' said Duminy.

Alderman Vos highlighted the City's projects and programmes aimed at supporting SMMEs and entrepreneurs.

'I'm very proud to say that women-led enterprises represented around 40% of the businesses that took part in our skills development workshops in the 2022/2023 financial year. Further, over R3,7 billion of all procurements undertaken by the City in 2022/2023 were with majority women-owned enterprises. So we do put our money where our mouth is when it comes to supporting women,' said Alderman Vos.

The City's tech industry Special Purpose Vehicle, UVU Africa, has just opened applications for its Women in Business programme, a 10-week training project aimed at young entrepreneurs. In the programme, participants will learn how to build their businesses, be mentored through creating a tech strategy that is suited to them, and network with other female bosses.

'For economies to grow and jobs to reach all communities, women need equal access to the skills, knowledge and contacts that will help them to grow their entrepreneurial footprint. Here in Cape Town, we are on a mission to create an environment that is as business-friendly as possible to grow an inclusive and diverse economy,' said Alderman Vos.   

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office