Stanbic's support for women in manufacturing guaranteed

STANBIC Bank Zambia has continued to provide a number of benefits to women in the manufacturing sector while helping them access the international markets.

The financial benefits have been made available through the Anakazi Banking platform, says Bank's Head of Women Banking and Public Relations, Chanda Katongo.

Ms Katongo said Stanbic Bank Zambia believed that the gender agenda was critical to the success of any economy.

She said this recently at a Women in Industry Conference organised by the Zambia Association of Manufactures.

"We aim to support efforts to increase financial inclusion for women and their households resulting in reduced vulnerability and greater income opportunities.

"We do this by creating an interactive network called Anakazi Banking for women that stems on three pillar -: Access to Finance, Access to Knowledge and Access to convenient Banking," Ms Katongo said.

She said Stanbic Bank's interaction with women had given it an increased understanding of women’s financial behaviour and financial service needs.

She indicated that the interaction had also contributed on the building capacity and offering women entrepreneurial education and platforms to increase their capabilities and business/networking skills by the Bank.

Zambian women, Ms Katongo said, were eager to benefit from financial services to improve the livelihoods of their households.

"In order to redress the gender imbalance and to contribute to women’s economic empowerment, Stanbic Bank Zambia specifically supports initiatives that target women in their professional and entrepreneurial capacity.

"This is done strengthening and supporting sustainable advances in knowledge, financial services and offering key support areas in financial growth," Ms Katongo said.