D. Purandeswari inaugurates COWE Trade Carnival 2013

Union Minister D. Purandeswari inaugurate All Women Trade Carnival The four-day COWE Trade Carnival 2013 will showcase products by women entrepreneurs and promulgate business opportunities and social entrepreneurship to women entrepreneurs

Hyderabad... 7 June 2013: Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Smt. D. Purandeswari inaugurated COWE Trade Carnival 2013 here at Sathya Sal Nigamagamam, Sri Nagar Colony, Hyderabad today. The Trade Carnival with the theme 'Gearing Women towards Social Entrepreneurship' is organised by the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE) in association with National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and supported by Ministry of MSME, Government of India. The sixth in the series of annual trade carnivals, it will be held from 7th - 10th June 2013. The Trade Carnival is a platform for Women Entrepreneurs to display and market their products to a wider and larger section of society. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Social Entrepreneur Smt. Mangalam Balasubramanian, Founder & Managing Trustee of Exnora Green Pammal, COWE office bearers and others. With over 76 stalls showcasing women entrepreneurship, the trade carnival will be open to public from 10am to 8pm till 10th June 2013. The entry to the Trade Carnival is free.

COWE Trade Carnival 2013 will showcase products by women entrepreneurs such as Corporate Gifts, Designer Wear, Fashion Accessories, Handicrafts, Home Decor items, etc. and for existing and budding women entrepreneurs it offers business opportunities as well as awareness on social entrepreneurship.

In accordance with the theme of the trade carnival this year, COWE is emphasizing on social entrepreneurship as it will benefit both entrepreneurs and the country. It is persuading women entrepreneurs to do business with social consciousness. Social Entrepreneurs such as Chennai's Smt. Mangalam Balasubramaniam of Exnora, Hubli's Shravani Hagardi of Safe Hands 24x7 and Hyderabad's Smt. Namita Banka of Banka Bio Toilets will be participating in the trade carnival. COWE hopes that the participating of these social entrepreneurs and others in the COWE Trade Carnival will inspire and encourage more women entrepreneurs towards social entrepreneurship, informs Mrs. P. Soudhamini.
COVVE is gearing women towards social entrepreneurship, by exposing women to new ideas that make business sense and also create solutions to social issues. Women entrepreneurs are making a mark for themselves in many male dominated sectors and now we want women entrepreneurs to be the change-agents in the society, making the best of opportunities and improve systems, taking a new approach to problems and creating solutions that create social value.

COWE is emphasizing on social entrepreneurship as it will benefit both entrepreneurs and the country. It is encouraging women to do business in such a way that it not only generates profits but also creates a 'social value'. Women Entrepreneurs should attempt to address and solve problems in healthcare, water and sanitization, education, skills development along with keeping the business perspective informs Ms. Girija, Vice Presdient, COWE.

Smt. Mangalam Balasubramaniam's Exnora Green Pammal is a non-governmental organization which works with residents, authorities, schools and the private sector to minimize waste and pollution. Exnora is into responsible solid waste management.

Shravani Hagardi's Safe Hands 24x7 is an innovative venture employing women security guards so as to help promote the ideas of gender equality, provide women with the ability to become financially independent.

Namita's Banka Bio Toilets is engaged in promoting and development innovative environment friendly products and services for Human Waste Management System especially where conventional toilets facility cannot be made available.

With the impetus of the 'Project Sanitation' taken up by COWE, it is to embark on the next move to create enterprises run by women in the field of sanitation. We are putting in plans to train women to manage and maintain public conveniences as an income generating source, informs Ms. Geeta Goti, Secretary, COWE.

We need many social entrepreneurs to provide innovative solutions in crucial areas such as healthcare, education, skills development, etc. Entrepreneurship helps in economic development through job and value creation whereas social entrepreneurship provides solutions to society's most pressing social and environmental challenges hence the theme for this year's carnival 'Gearing Women towards Social Entrepreneurship'.

As part of the Trade Carnival a round table conference --- 'Strengthening Women Entrepreneurship in India: Role of BMOs (Business Member Organisations) & Associations' will be held at Hotel Avasa, Madhapur on 8th June 2013. Panelists from several organizations such as Indian Industries Association, Madhya Pradesh Laghu Udyog Nigam Ltd., Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FMPCCI), Udaipur Chamber of Commerce & Industry (UCCI), ZDH SEQUA Germany, etc. and others will participate in the conference.

Women still represent a minority of all entrepreneurs and face many problems which prevent them from realizing their full potential as entrepreneurs. The Trade Carnival is organized by COWE with an aim to provide a platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their products, widen market opportunities, test market, have 82B interactions and provide networking opportunities. The carnival will also serve as an encouragement and inspiration to women who would like to do something on their own. COWE's stall at the Trade Carnival will provide all the assistance right from choosing the right business to loans to growth plans.

About COWE: Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE) is a non-profit body of successful women entrepreneurs, backed by about 550 strong members it was inaugurated by the late Hon'ble Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Raja Sekhara Reddy in 2004. COWE works towards promoting social and economic development of women through entrepreneurship, which is achieved by empowering women through training, skill development programs, seminars and exhibitions, infrastructure development, project identification and funding besides exposing them to other business and developmental opportunities.