Empowering Ethiopian Women: A Success Story in Business Training
In a significant step towards gender equality and economic empowerment, over 60 Ethiopian female entrepreneurs have recently graduated from the China-supported Global Female Entrepreneurship Empowerment Program (GFEEP) workshop in Addis Ababa. This two-week intensive training program has equipped these women with essential skills to thrive in the business world.
The workshop covered a wide range of topics, including strategic business thinking, digital literacy, modern business models, and entrepreneurial skills. These areas are crucial for any entrepreneur to succeed in today's rapidly changing business landscape.
Sun Mingxi, the charge d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, emphasized the importance of this initiative during the graduation ceremony. He stated that the training workshop is a key part of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027), which aims to empower women and promote gender equality across Africa.
"This training workshop is a testament to China's commitment to women's entrepreneurship, inclusive development, and the people-to-people exchange between China and Africa," Sun Mingxi said. "It reflects our shared vision for a more equitable and prosperous future."
Tsedeke Digafe, deputy secretary general of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the joint effort between Ethiopia and China to advance gender equality and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5.
One of the participants, Mulu Kemal, shared her transformative experience. As an entrepreneur in Ethiopia's injera export business, the GFEEP workshop provided her with essential skills in business management, innovation, leadership, and systematic thinking. "Before the program, my approach was intuitive and traditional," she said. "Now, it's structured, customer-focused, and growth-oriented."
The impact of this training extends beyond individual entrepreneurs. Wu Jiuyi, deputy general manager of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Ethiopia, emphasized the broader significance. "The training is more than sharing knowledge and experience," he said. "It is a commitment to promoting gender equality, economic inclusion, and accelerating sustainable development. Empowering women means driving economic development."
The graduation ceremony also marked a significant milestone with the signing of memoranda of understanding between 10 Ethiopian entrepreneurs and CCECC. This agreement aims to create market linkages and further support the participants' business ventures. Additionally, an exhibition showcased the products created by the participants, providing a tangible demonstration of their newfound skills and entrepreneurial spirit.
The GFEEP program, led by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), is a testament to the power of international cooperation in capacity-building. By targeting female entrepreneurs from developing countries, it aims to foster a new generation of business leaders who can contribute to economic growth and social development.
