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The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Exim Bank (GEXIM), a CWEIC Strategic Partner, responsible for Banking and Business, Rosemary Beryl Archer, has urged women to embrace technology and leverage it to advance and compete in new frontiers that were previously inaccessible.

Ms. Archer made the call to mark this year’s International Women’s Day celebration, which falls on Tuesday 8th March 2022 with the theme “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”. She further sent best wishes to all women around the world making great strides in their fields and making an impact in their communities. “I extend my warmest felicitations to all women on a day that seeks to honour feminine industry players and those in socio-political spheres the world over.

The contribution of women to various facets of our economy has been momentous, although not sufficiently acknowledged. Even in the face of spiraling challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, women have held the fort and ensured stability and progress in many spheres of our economy. These notwithstanding, women also appear to have been the most affected by the ravages of the recent global challenges”, she emphasized.

According to a study by the International Labour Organization, approximately 4.2% of women’s employment was lost as a result of the pandemic from 2019 to 2021, compared to 3% of men. It further revealed that, the number of men in employment was projected to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021, while the number of women is expected to be 13 million fewer by about the same time.

While there may be several avenues for remedying the situation, Ms. Archer highlighted trade as one of the most potent sources of hope to this situation and advocated for us to pursue trade as a viable alternative to growth and economic rejuvenation. “A World Bank publication in 2020 indicated that Trade can radically improve women’s lives, create new jobs, enhance consumer choice, and increase women’s bargaining power in society.

In the report, the World Bank Managing Director, Mari Pangestu revealed that Trade can expand women’s role in the economy and decrease disparities with men by giving women more and better employment opportunities and seizing these opportunities will be even more important in a post-COVID-19 world”, she emphasized.

Ms. Archer further appealed to men in relevant spheres of influence to be deliberate in walking hand-in-hand with their women counterparts as they strive forward in the path of growth and progress. She added that such a step is necessary to achieve the campaign for gender equity.

In line with this year’s theme of “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow” GEXIM is committed to advancing the course of women participating in the local production, agribusiness and exports of made in Ghana products to drive the industrialization agenda of the Government. GEXIM has in the past couple of years offered support to women involved in agribusiness, manufacturing, food processing and supported the construction of four (4) shea processing centres (through the Shea Empowerment Initiative) and the establishment of the GEXIM SME Tuesday Market platform to primarily highlight made in Ghana products mostly spearheaded by women.

There are several other initiatives soon to be launched by the bank with the aim of furthering the course of Ghanaian women in local production and international trade. These initiatives are expected to give the needed boast to sustainably grow trade and the country’s economy at large.