Empowering women using mobile technologies was top of the agenda at the first Connected Women Africa conference - part of the GSMA’s Mobile 360: Africa event.

The GSMA is currently holding the Africa series of its conference in Cape Town, South Africa, under the theme of “Driving Digital and Financial Inclusion”.

And speaking at the conference Raadhika Sihin, vice president for Public Policy Africa at MasterCard explained that empowering women through mobile technology is a huge untapped market.

Two thirds of new mobile subscriptions will be from women, she said.

She added that 83% of consumer products are made for women.

According to Sihin if women are empowered that can break the cycle of poverty for generations to come.

She explained that technology in terms of empowerment brings together information, education, awareness and even facilitate jobs, which will results in knowledge and skills that can be passed on.