Ethiopian Review

Addis Ababa – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said it is working to promote women entrepreneurs.

Officially opening a consultative forum on “The Perspective of Women Business Owners in Trade in Services” organized by the Centre for African Women Economic Empowerment (CAWEE) yesterday, Director of the Women’s Affairs and Affirmative Action Directorate General with the Ministry, Ambassador Halima Mohammed said that the Ministry is working to promote women entrepreneurs.

In her message read out at the event Ambassador Halima said that the Ministry recognizes well the critical role women entrepreneurs play in realizing economic development of the country.

According to Ambassador Halima, the government is taking various steps to encourage women engaged in entrepreneurship.

Executive Director of CAWEE, Nigest Haile on her part said that the Centre for African Women Economic Empowerment is collaborating with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) and the Spanish embassy to support the Ethiopian women entrepreneurs.

According to Nigest, CAWEE has facilitated business guarantee fund for both women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia and in the Diaspora from the USAID, while some women have received financial assistance through the Abyssinia Bank for their businesses.

The executive director also indicated that the center has been organizing a series of consultative forums on women entrepreneurship, adding, that the current forum is organized with a view to proposing opinions, workable recommendations and policy ideal on women in business especially engaged in the service sector.

Head of Spanish Development Cooperation, Maria Cruz also on the occasion said that the consultative forum is of great importance to generate ideas on the improvement of businesses owned by women.

She also recalled that the Spanish embassy is extending assistance for efforts of advancing women entrepreneurship in Ethiopia and further pledged the support of the Spanish government in the future.

- WIC