The US Consulate General in Kolkata, in partnership with Startup India, Aroh Foundation, organised a two-day workshop for the Women’s Global Development Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative ‘Academy for Women Entrepreneurs’ (AWE) in Shillong, which concluded today.
The AWE programme, funded by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA), is implementing AWE in over 50 countries globally and has engaged with more than 5,000 women entrepreneurs.
Addressing the gathering, Juan Clar, the Assistant Public Diplomacy Officer of the US Consulate in Kolkata, and the Deputy Director of the American Center in Kolkata, said, “The United States believes strongly in women’s empowerment through entrepreneurship, and stands firmly for women’s equality, and inclusion in all public endeavours. These are challenging times indeed but an opportunity for us to show the strength and depth of our bilateral relationship. I am proud of the way we at Consulate Kolkata have continued to adapt our programs to support entrepreneurs in our region. Keeping in mind that women in particular face increased challenges during these times, we have stepped up our efforts to support and mentor women entrepreneurs.”
AWE is in its third edition and is building the skills of more than 120 women entrepreneurs in Meghalaya, Sikkim and West Bengal. The cohort in Meghalaya has been supported by HDFC Bank through its Parivartan program and enabled by PRIME Meghalaya.
