African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program concludes in Addis Ababa
By Dennis Kabatto – One hundred African Women Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) entrepreneurs from across the continent participated in a two-day forum from August 10 – 11, to empower women to own and operate small and medium businesses, which could enable them to become voices for social progress in their communities.
The Opening of African Women’s Entrepreneur Program (AWEP) two day Forum at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa. 2nd from left U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass & Center – The First lady of Ethiopia H.E. Roman Tesfaye. Photo Credit: Meron Dagnew
Hosted by AWEP’S Ethiopia Chapter at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this year’s forum focused on best practices for trading under AGOA, how to access finance for women, business development, regional initiatives empowering women entrepreneurs and the use of social media to build a successful business.
The First Lady of Ethiopia H.E. Roman Tesfaye, US Congresswoman Karen Bass (representing the 37th District of California) and African Union Commissioner for Trade and Industry Fatima Acyl opened this year’s AWEP Forum.
In her opening remarks, Her Excellency Tesfaye reiterated women are the backbone of African communities and the continent’s greatest potential to unlocking economic growth as they provide the majority of labor at least at the least amount of resources.
She indicated that promoting export and women in business is an area of high concern to the Ethiopian government assuring participants that the government of Ethiopia will do everything in its power to build the capacity of Ethiopian women to enter into and benefit from the export market.
The First Lady of Ethiopia H.E. Roman Tesfaye
“The Ethiopian Chapter being the leading organizer of this AWEP forum has focused on the theme “Queen of Sheba the Entrepreneur” indicating that entrepreneurship for Ethiopian women started centuries back where the Queen herself was an entrepreneur. As a patron for the AWEP Ethiopian Chapter, I am proud for being involved with such a noble initiative of empowering the women entrepreneurs. I will be fully committed to support the AWEP Ethiopia chapter in my personal and office capacity,” said H.E. Tesfaye.
AWEP, as an outreach, education and engagement initiative that targets African women entrepreneurs to promote business growth, increase trade both regionally and to US markets H.E. Tesfaye argues that there is a need to strategize on how best different AWEP countries chapter can have ‘a Pan African AWEP platform” where they can come together and make their voices better heard.
US Congresswoman Karen Bass (representing the 37th District of California)
She added that she strongly “believes that African Union can play a vital role since economically empowering African women is definitely empowering African families, African communities, African countries and the continent at large.”
Congresswoman Karen Bass urged participants to fully realize the potential as AWEP representatives in their capacities as respected entrepreneurs trading locally, regionally and hopefully internationally it means that their platform for doing business on the continent of Africa and beyond is expanding rapidly.
She encouraged participants to “continue to play a critical role to ensure that their governments draw from their insider experiences in formulating a proactive and inclusive AGOA strategy.”
“As an US legislator I must be mindful of the constraints and challenges that you as entrepreneurs must face and help to leverage the opportunities. My travel with my congressional colleagues to several African countries our meetings with you here today and in the US, in our interactions with civil societies the private sector and the African diplomatic corps only help inform our efforts to reauthorize, strengthened AGOA legislations with strong bipartisan support,” Congresswoman Bass added.
According to Meron Dagnew, an advocate of Ethiopian Arts & Culture, founder of Addis Ababa based BE Kollective and member of AWEP, Ethiopia Chapter, AWEP entrepreneurs participated with the Corporate Council on Africa’s U.S. – Africa Business Center and the Intel Corporation in a Business-to-Business Networking Event on closing night of the forum.
Ms Dagnew said the event provided an opportunity for AWEP entrepreneurs to network with American companies and investors from different business sectors including fashion and textiles, manufacturing, services and technology.
AWEP is an initiative of the US State Department launched in 2010 alongside the AGOA ministerial forum in Zambia.
