Government has partnered with Absa to launch the EmpowerHer Market Trade Fair, a new initiative designed to strengthen women's economic empowerment by helping women-owned businesses access new markets, attract investment and secure business opportunities.
The trade fair was officially launched in Durban by the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, to mark the beginning of Women's Month 2026.
EmpowerHer Fair Supports Women Entrepreneurs
The EmpowerHer Market Trade Fair aims to create meaningful opportunities for women entrepreneurs by providing a platform where they can showcase their products and services, connect with potential customers, establish business partnerships and engage with investors.
Government says the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to improve economic participation for women-owned businesses by working closely with the private sector.
Speaking at the launch, Chikunga highlighted the importance of collaboration between government and business in addressing the challenges many women entrepreneurs continue to face.
Women-Owned Businesses Still Face Significant Barriers
The Minister said many women-owned businesses continue to encounter structural barriers that make it difficult to start, sustain and grow successful enterprises.
These challenges include limited access to markets, procurement opportunities, finance, investment, business development support, technology, information, professional networks and supply chains.
“Many women entrepreneurs operate in informal or small-scale markets, and struggle to transition into sustainable, commercially viable enterprises.
“There is a persistent gap between women-owned businesses and large corporations, between women-owned businesses and government procurement systems, and between women-owned businesses and mainstream markets — which results in limited market access and insufficient participation in high-value sectors and supply chains,” the Minister said.
Connecting Women Entrepreneurs With Buyers And Investors
Chikunga explained that the EmpowerHer Market Trade Fair has been created to bridge the gap between women entrepreneurs and viable commercial opportunities by bringing together government, corporates, financial institutions, buyers, investors and business support organisations.
The goal is to move beyond simply displaying products and instead facilitate real business growth through procurement opportunities, investment and long-term commercial partnerships.
“We aim to move beyond showcasing products, towards actual commercial transactions, investment, procurement opportunities, business partnerships, and long-term market linkages.
“This Trade Fair is not merely an exhibition — it is an economic empowerment and market access intervention. It seeks to achieve visibility, market access, business deals, procurement, investment, enterprise growth, job creation, and economic empowerment,” the Minister said.
Practical Business Support For Entrepreneurs
Women entrepreneurs participating in the exhibition were able to access a range of practical support services, including business pitch sessions, discussions with procurement specialists and buyers, finance and development finance desks, and business support clinics.
Chikunga said initiatives such as these are essential because many women-owned businesses continue to struggle to access meaningful economic opportunities despite policies aimed at supporting them.
“Too often, women-owned enterprises are visible in policy language, but invisible in actual value chains. They are invited to events but not linked to buyers. They are encouraged to formalise but not supported through the compliance burden. They are told to access finance but not assisted to meet financing criteria.
“We are here to insist that this must change. Today’s programme must therefore shift from once-off visibility to structured economic participation,” Chikunga said.
Inclusive Economic Growth Benefits Everyone
The Minister said supporting women-owned businesses has a positive impact beyond individual entrepreneurs, contributing to stronger households, local communities and South Africa's broader economy.
She added that the initiative also places a strong focus on supporting young entrepreneurs and persons with disabilities, recognising that different groups face unique barriers to economic participation.
“This is particularly important in the context of youth and persons with disabilities. Today’s programme deliberately includes women-owned enterprises, youth-owned enterprises, and enterprises owned by or inclusive of persons with disabilities.
“A truly transformed economy must recognise the different barriers faced by different groups, while building pathways that allow all to participate meaningfully,” the Minister said.
Government Calls For Better Coordination
Chikunga said meaningful inclusion requires more than policy commitments and called for better coordination between government and its partners to ensure entrepreneurs receive the support they need.
She noted that entrepreneurs in rural and township communities often require support closer to where they operate, while young women need assistance to enter markets early and build sustainable businesses.
“For persons with disabilities, inclusion means accessibility, reasonable accommodation, and real economic opportunity.
“For young women, it means support to enter markets early, to build enterprise capability, and to participate in emerging sectors. For women in rural and township economies, it means bringing support closer to where economic activity happens — not expecting entrepreneurs to carry every institutional cost alone.
“This is why coordination matters. Fragmented support will only produce fragmented outcomes. Today, we are saying that the State, working with partners, must become better at joining the dots,” the Minister said.
