IF YOU'RE on the Costa del Sol this weekend, pop to Fuengirola and get your purse out – the annual Businesswomen and Entrepreneurs Fair, or Women in Business Fête, has taken over the Plaza de la Constitución.
The Feria de Mujeres Empresarias y Emprendedoras is a chance for ladies to showcase their wares and activities, make contacts and drum up custom, whatever their area of activity or expertise.
Picture of the previous Women in Business Fair, by Fuengirola TV
A trade fair as well as a market, some of the stands will be given over to shop goods or handcrafted items, whilst others will be information stalls about the services women offer as sole traders or company heads or founders.
So far, the fair has taken place 10 times – this weekend's is the 11th – although not in consecutive years, given that 2020 was marred by the pandemic.
Mayoress Ana Mula, who officially opened the fête this morning (Friday), says it is a 'great opportunity' for professional women to network and advertise themselves, for others to find out what they do and how their firms can help them, and to increase visibility of the hard-working females in Fuengirola.
Also, it is 'the perfect framework' for promoting and kick-starting local trade again after a very difficult year, Sra Mula argues.
This local trade normally includes brand-new businesses set up that same year by women, and gives them the chance to raise awareness of their presence.
The Plaza de la Constitución is the usual venue for the fair, since it 'allows for maximum passing trade and public', the mayoress explains.
She is full of praise for the women who have taken part in previous fairs and have signed up for this year's – a total of 14 this time around – pointing out theirs is a 'double merit' in those cases where they are juggling their businesses with looking after their children or caring for other relatives.
Ana Mula urges local residents and people from other towns to 'come along and get to know' what Fuengirola women are capable of.
She recalls that the last decade has seen an 11% rise nationwide in the number of females registering as self-employed, 'a clear sign of an upsurge in women becoming entrepreneurs'.
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