Senator Salma Ataullahjan, on behalf of the Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of International Cooperation, announced support today for the Women Entrepreneurship Development Program in Ethiopia. Empowering women to contribute to, and benefit from, economic growth, is aligned with Canada's Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy. Senator Ataullahjan made the announcement at the African Women Trade and Investment Opportunities Conference.
"This program helps women entrepreneurs in urban areas of Ethiopia by improving their access to financing and technical training," said Senator Ataullahjan. "It aims to provide as many as 17,500 Ethiopian women with the tools they need to take their ideas and turn them into economic growth and job creation in their communities."
Today's announcement further demonstrates Canada's continued support for women entrepreneurs. The project in Ethiopia, to be implemented by the World Bank, helps women gain access to microfinance, and provides training in skills development, technology, and product development. Women's economic empowerment is fundamental to inclusive and sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, food security, and the achievement of gender equality.
"Canada recognizes that women play a central role as income earners in lifting themselves, their families and their communities out of poverty," said Minister Fantino. "Canada is proud to provide women with the business tools and skills they need to succeed."
"We are grateful for Canada's contribution to the Women Entrepreneurship Development Program in Ethiopia," said Yasmin Tayyab of the World Bank in Ethiopia. "No country can achieve its full economic potential without the participation of women as key economic actors in society. This project provides access to finance and helps build the entrepreneurial skills of women business owners."
Economic Action Plan 2013 reaffirms Canada's commitment to international development such as improving sustainable economic growth, which includes the economic empowerment of women. The new Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development will maintain the mandate of poverty alleviation and help to achieve greater efficiency, accountability and focus to continue to improve the lives of people in need around the world.
