Trade Queen SA launches in Hyde Park

Sandton never ceases to make history, and serving as the launching pad for the Trade Queen South Africa pageant and networking opportunity on April 13 was one such occasion.

The high-profile networking event, emceed by business analyst Amisha Narandas, drew in an elite crowd of delegates who attended: Department of Economic Development MEC Tasneem Motara, American vocal artist Ronnie Dunn, Bongani Mkwananzi – Prince of Mthwakazi, as well as founding CEO of the Association of Women in Mining (AWIMSA) Mamosa Modise.

“Trade Queen is all about women,” Modise said, introducing the agenda for the evening. “This event is the media launch of Trade Queen Africa to empower women: women with disabilities, women in the mining, youth and entrepreneurial spaces.”

Trade Queen SA partner TradeBRICS managing director Geetha Maharaj, expounded – describing Trade Queen South Africa as a groundbreaking event which integrates a pageant with networking opportunities and exempt-micro-enterprise (EME) showcasing the business’s rating.

Maharaj praised the initiative for being designed to celebrate, and empower women in business: from start-ups, to established enterprises across the spectrum.

“The Trade Queen South Africa initiative offers a dynamic platform for showcasing these achievements, sharing experiences and building valuable connections that can accelerate their careers and entrepreneurial ventures on both a continental and global scale,” said Maharaj. “I believe deeply in the power of such initiatives to cultivate leadership, boost confidence, and foster solidarity among women entrepreneurs.

“This unique approach celebrates the diverse talents and accomplishments of women, and also fosters meaningful interactions and collaboration,” Maharaj continued. “We foster a supportive and inclusive environment, where participants can inspire each other, and engage in trade both locally and globally.”

Geetha and her husband Pravin Maharaj, whose home served as the launch venue in Hyde Park, both regarded Trade Queen SA as a progressive chapter in the future of South Africa in their respective addresses. Expressing how he came to be involved with Trade Queen SA as a benefactor, Pravin Maharaj spoke on the importance of tapping into soft-power markets, such as textiles and the empowerment of women across industries.

“For the first time in the history of the continent, we are seeing a pageant which is going to be integrated across 50 plus countries, uniting women from across a diversified field invarious industries,” Maharaj said. “We thought it a great opportunity to begin integrating soft power, like woman-power, across the continent.

“We’ve begun to see fabulous opportunities for us to organise ourselves in a very structured, progressive way with this pageant,” said Maharaj.

The date for the inaugural pageant will be availed as soon as it has been announced.

Related articles: National ‘What About the Boys?’ programme announces enhanced 2023 rollout