Dhaka: Charge d’affaires of the US embassy in Dhaka Megan Bouldin today affirmed Washington’s commitment to support women’s economic empowerment in Bangladesh. She underlined for fostering both gender-inclusive economic growth and providing opportunities to religious and other minorities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bouldin made the comment at an event celebrating 90 aspiring women entrepreneurs who completed this year’s US-government funded Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) programme. The US Embassy Dhaka, in partnership with BRAC University’s Center for Entrepreneurship Development (CED), organized the event at the university’s Badda campus.
The programme, delivered in partnership with Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, utilizes the Dream Builder platform to offer online learning resources and soft-skills training. Conducted over three months in Bangla by industry experts, the course emphasized sustainability, peer-to-p
eer learning, and networking, creating a strong foundation for business growth.
The event featured a mini-fair and exhibition where participants showcased and sold their products, demonstrating the entrepreneurial skills they developed through the programme. Many participants hail from marginalized and minority communities, exemplifying their resilience and determination throughout their entrepreneurial journey, the media note said.
Congratulating the successful women, Megan Bouldin stated, “You are paving the way for future generations of women entrepreneurs and proving that women have a critical role to play in Bangladesh’s economic development.” During the ceremony, six top business pitch winners from the latest cohort were awarded for their outstanding business proposals.
Bouldin also announced an additional $30,000 grant to fund a business pitch competition among 140 participants from all AWE cohorts. This funding will enable women from all cohorts to compete for multiple $5,000 awards to support thei
r entrepreneurial ventures.
The AWE program, a global initiative of the US state department, equips women with essential business knowledge and skills. The AWE initiative aligns with the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, promoting women’s full economic participation and supporting a future where women from diverse backgrounds can contribute meaningfully to global economic growth, thus strengthening the prosperity of their communities and industries.