The Government wants market vendors to be part of the expected exponential growth in the Western Division.

A group of market vendors yesterday heard Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar explain how they played a key role in the transformation of their communities.

She was officiating at the graduation of 133 market vendors from Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki yesterday in Ba from the markets for change project.

“The ministry is always greatly supportive of projects such as this as it promotes gender equality and socio-economic empowerment of market vendors,” she said.

She said there was immense untapped potential waiting to be unveiled in the markets for change project.

122 market vendors from Lautoka participated in the market for change work shop from on March and May of this year while 120 vendors participated in the training from December last year and February of this year.

The project was collaboration between the Ministry of Women Children and Poverty Alleviation, UN Women and the Ministry of local Government.

“There is a need to empower them with informative workshops and trainings to ensure they are being recognised by improving their working conditions,” Ms Akbar said.

She said this provided platforms of discussion for women vendors to voice their concerns.

“It is through workshops such as this, that the mindset and behaviours can change and the capabilities of women are recognised,” she said.

She said the economic growth in Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki relied on market produce.

“In Ba there are 365 market vendors, 379 in Rakiraki and 127 in Tavua, thus creating the importance of educating them,”she said.

The 122 market vendors from Lautoka will be receiving their certificates this Thursday.

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