Harare — Zimbabwean and South African businesswomen have moved a gear up in their pursuit to forge investment and trade ties, with the Professional Women, Women Executives and Businesswomen Forum (Proweb), this week hosting a delegation of women investors from SA's Women Investments Portfolio Holdings Limited (Wiphold).

The visit was motivated by growing investment opportunities here and the desire for closer linkages between the two.

Wiphold and Proweb delegates met Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe on Monday during which meetings the two pledged Govern-ment's support in initiatives to promote women's economic emancipation.

A two-day trade and investment indaba attended by local and SA business and professional women culminated on Tuesday, in the signing of the Mt Pleasant Declaration where Proweb and Wiphold agreed to pursue strategies that promote economic co-operation through business vehicles such as partnerships and joint ventures.

Investment opportunities in key sectors such as mining, agriculture, infrastructure development, energy, banking and financial services and health would be pursued.

The two organisations also agreed to promote the opening of new markets in both countries for members' goods and services while other initiatives to increase networking and co-operation would be adopted.

A Memorandum of Understanding is scheduled for signing early next year while a six-member committee with representatives from Proweb and Wiphold would be appointed by January 20 2010 to spearhead implementation of the agreement.

Wiphold is an 18 000-member SA women's investment vehicle established in 1994 to champion women's participation in the mainstream economy. It became the first women's group to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1999 with a capital base of R1,5 billion.

Presently it commands shareholding in various companies that include Old Mutual plc, coal miner Sasol, hotel giant Sun International and SA's fourth largest bank Nedbank.

Its interests span across telecommunications, banking and financial services, tourism and leisure, among others.

In an interview Wiphold chairperson and chief executive Louisa Mojela said the visit had been worth the while with all sectors of the Zimbabwean economy exuded opportunities that Wiphold would be interested in.

"There are a number of opportunities in almost all the sectors and it now depends pretty much on how much funding can be raised. We are really amazed by Zimbabwean women and how they have ventured into agriculture in a big way and they are in mining too.

"Women in the region should do more of these visits to learn and share information on how we can work together.

Wiphold board member Makole Mupita said the visit had been an eye-opener.

"I am pleased with what I have learnt and seen over the past two days. Its clear there are great opportunities here and its clear there are funding constraints. We hope to help unlock that.

"We are impressed by the women's spirit and enthusiasm here," she said.

Proweb president Florence Ziumbe was optimistic significant strides would come out of the visit and future programmes.

"For me, the Wiphold visit, coming as it does, at their own initiative, says to us that the initiative by Proweb to participate in the economy is gaining ground.

"It is not just Wiphold, many investors are knocking at our door. They want Proweb to be part of mega business deals. The legislative environment in South Africa makes is mandatory to have women in these deals and it is our desire that our Government will recognise that and create such an environment.

She commended Government for signing the Sadc Protocol on Women and its ratification by Parliament as a major step towards empowering women.

Wiphold is expected back in Zimbabwe early next year.