UN envoy wants more women in business

The United Nations (UN) has expressed concern over the difference in numbers between male and female entrepreneurs in the country, saying the situation fuels inequality between the two genders.

Fekitamoeloa Utoikamanu, UN under-secretary general for the least developed and landlocked countries, made the observation at the end of her four-day visit to Malawi at the weekend.

She said the opportunities for women were limited, making them struggle even more to survive in the male-dominated entrepreneurship landscape.

Speaking in an interview after visiting women entrepreneurs in Lilongwe, Utoikamanu said this was the more reason her organisation always pushes for parity between men and women at workplaces.

She said: “The women as businesspeople are still not in majority and as far as UN is concerned, there is always need for a push in order to acquire parity in workplaces.”

Utoikamanu is under-secretary general for 47 least developed countries and was in the country to engage authorities and also participate in the launch of Malawi Investment Study that will help in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number seven on energy access by the year 2030.

During the visit, the UN envoy visited women entrepreneurs at MHub where she had a working lunch with them and shared experiences and aspirations.

She also visited women who make energy conserving cooking stoves in Lilongwe rural after and an agribusiness woman entrepreneur Ngabaghila Chatata within the district.

Chatata, who is succeeding in the male-dominated agri-business, said that it is high time women took advantage of vast opportunities and pushed harder to claim their rightful position in the economy. n