Ambassador Marie Andersson de Frutos was a keynote speaker at a conference to celebrate TechnoServe’s 20th anniversary in Mozambique - an organization that has been providing technical assistance to Mozambican industries, agribusiness and companies in the agricultural trade sector since 1998.
During her keynote speech, Swedish Ambassador to Mozambique Marie Andersson de Frutos mentioned the challenges that Mozambique faces in making the country's recent economic growth more inclusive and equal, defending the need to prioritize women in the country's development, since they represent the majority of the population in Mozambique.
"Prioritizing women means that they must take their place as an economic actor capable and prepared to enjoy employment and income opportunities," said the Ambassador, stressing that this is not an easy task and requires engagement and synergy from all development actors.
Finally, the Ambassador urged TechnoServe to ensure, in its role as a promoter of employment and revenue, that women are not only employed but that they are also employers within the activities carried out in the different value chains that Technoserve promotes. "It is so that more income earned by women reinforces its multiplier effect in reducing poverty and increasing the family wellbeing."
The Swedish Embassy and TechnoServe are currently in the process of designing a five-year project that will focus on women economic empowerment.
