WIBA Penetrates Regional Markets
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday November 12, 2018 13:25
Speaking to Monitor Business, WIBA president Nametso Ntsosa-Carr said most of their members have benefited from their trips to business forums in Lesotho and the North West region in South Africa.
“Most of the MoUs we signed have been beneficial to our members. We met other women in business in Lesotho through the SADC training where some of our members managed to get partnerships with even more women in Tanzania and Kenya,” she said.
According to Ntsosa-Carr, they were able to build networks, which help them exchange ideas on a daily basis. She added that the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security has also played a role in helping women in the agro market penetrate the Israel market.
She further noted that WIBA has hosted workshops in Maun and Francistown in an endeavour to empower its members.
As part of these workshops, Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS), Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS), Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) and Companies and Intellectual Properties Authority (CIPA) were called in to impart their requirements on WIBA members.“It has been a very fruitful and promising year for our members. Opportunities keep coming up everyday and that is some of the education we have been sensetising our members on,” she said.
The partnership they entered into last year with a South African company BluThorn Procurement Solutions has also benefited from some of their members even in remote areas to help grow their businesses.
Last year WIBA signed a MoU with BluThorn according their members an opportunity to get financial assistance of between P200,000 and P1.5 million.
Recently WIBA also entered into another partnership with Old Mutual short term insurance company, Hollard Life Assurance Company and Kgare Insurance Brokers.
“Through this partnership, we want to encourage our members to insure their business against any misfortune that can occur. As a business person, one needs to be prepared for such instances,” she said.
Ntsosa-Carr said Kgare Insurance would provide broking services to WIBA and its members by offering customised insurance products, advice, cover placement, claims settlement, risk management in conjunction with insuring partners.
They would also advise WIBA members on insurance regulations and compliance requirements as well as receive premiums from subscribers to pay underwriters.
“They would also provide education and training on insurance covers, claims procedures and risk management practices,” Ntsosa-Carr said. Old Mutual would provide short term insurance cover to WIBA and its members and to pay all valid claims as well as assist with training of members and provide risk assessment services.
On the other hand, Hollard Insurance would provide group funeral and group life insurance cover for WIBA and its members and to pay all valid claims.