On December 9, private sector leaders launched Cameroon’s first Africa Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) Chapter during a ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé.

The event featured a video message from Washington, D.C. for AWEP members by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Bisa Williams. It also welcomed U.S. Ambassador Michael S. Hoza, Minister Marie Therese Abena Ondoa, Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, and Elisabeth Tchoungui, Freelance Journalist operating in France, who delivered keynote remarks lauding the women for their leadership and determination to promote economic development through private sector growth.

The Minister noted that the Government of the Republic of Cameroon is committed to its “Vision 2035” strategy to lift the nation into middle income status by that year, but that “the vision starts NOW with the launching of AWEP in 2014, when women must join their talents and contributions to promote development for 2035.”

Other distinguished guests included the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, Government of the Republic of Cameroon officials, Senators, and members of the media. AWEP Cameroon members (comprised) included Chapter President Caroline Kendem Sack, Chapter Vice President Maréme Malong Samb, Treasurer Fernanda Coelho Furtado, Secretary General Marie-Paule Niat, Josiane Mbakop, Adama Abba and Pascaline Tchale.

In his remarks, Ambassador Hoza noted: “your message that private sector growth is essential to promote development in Cameroon is one that we share.

You are all pioneers in a new endeavor and are joined by many women around this great continent who have established AWEP chapters to promote entrepreneurship in their countries. As President Obama has said, women business leaders like you are building the future of the African continent.

Your ideas, talents, energy, and enthusiasm promise a future of economic growth for Cameroon. You are a role model, not just for me, but especially for Cameroonian women and girls. One of the United States’ highest priorities is to promote private sector growth in Cameroon, which is also a stated vision of the Government of Cameroon. We are proud to partner in that vision.

Private sectors create jobs and promote economic development. They provide citizens with the economic means to sustain their families and communities. This is very important in today’s globalized world, preparing Cameroon’s population to compete in global trade. Lorsque Cameroun prospère, les Etats-Unis prospère.”

The AWEP launching ceremony continued with presentations and discussions by AWEP members from throughout the region who shared their ideas and lessons learned in promoting inter-African cooperation and greater investments in women’s education, their leadership in the private sector, which compliment efforts by governments to promote health and education.

Later in the afternoon, Secretary Clinton’s statement that “Women can be the rock on which a freer, safer, more prosperous Africa is built. The just need the opportunity” was quoted as an inspiration as leading business women and experts on gender issues led discussions on opportunities for rural women on building leadership skills, wealth creation, and strategies to empower them to move to the next level of business.

At the end of the discussions, Cultural Affairs Specialist Gladys Viban highlighted program opportunities for women through educational exchange programs offered by the Department of State.

In the evening, the Ambassador hosted a reception at his residence for over 100 AWEP guests attended by government and private sector leaders, as well as members of the media and the diplomatic corps. Welcoming guests, the Ambassador underscored his message that promoting women’s entrepreneurship is one of the United States’ highest foreign policy priorities.

The African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) is an outreach, education, and engagement initiative that targets African women entrepreneurs to promote business growth, increase trade both regionally and to U.S. markets through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), create better business environments, and empower African women entrepreneurs to become voices of change in their communities.