On September 4, Ms. Josiane Mbakop Noukeu visited the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé following her trip to the United States under the Africa Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) sponsored by the American people through the U.S. Department of State.

She was welcomed by Public Affairs Officer Roberto Quiroz II and Cultural Affairs Specialist Gladys Shang Viban. As part of the exchange program, Ms. Mbakop visited Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, and Albuquerque, New Mexico from July 26 through August 16, 2014. Her training was focused in microfinance, women’s cooperative initiatives, and business development.

Ms. Mbakop is the founder and CEO of the Mutual Savings and Credit for the Development of Female Entrepreneurship in Cameroon (MUDEF). Since its founding eleven years ago, MUDEF trains, supports, funds, and coaches women project holders, small and medium size enterprise owners, and vulnerable women to help them carry out income-generating activities. Two key products MUDEF has developed are a chain of tie-dye clothes and cassava processing.

Ms. Viban highlighted: “Ms. Mbakop’s experience in promoting women's entrepreneurship offered tremendous contributions to the AWEP program, which showcased women's entrepreneurial advancement in the United States and other nations, and sector-specific business best practices. Her experience serves as a role model to other Cameroonian women who want to start their own business ideas to economically empower others.”

Ms. Mbakop noted: “I thank the American people for providing me this unique opportunity to visit the United States. The program offered me opportunities to meet American business people and civic leaders, including the Mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico who so warmly made us feel welcome.

My fellow participants and I were also impressed by how the whole world seems to convene in New York City, which is home to citizens from every corner of the global community. Yet more important is having interacted with my colleagues from other African nations, who also found rewarding the exchange program’s introduction to business growth, advocacy, networking models, and workshops on leadership and management. Together we developed a larger idea on how to promote our own goals and objectives to empower our fellow African women.”

During their meeting, Mr. Quiroz underscored the United States’ commitment to promote women’s empowerment, adding: “As Ambassador Michael Hoza has said, strengthening our partnership with women entrepreneurs like you is a top priority for the United States in Cameroon.

Women’s entrepreneurship ideas are essential to unlock the potential of the private sector and to promote economic growth and opportunities for a growing generation of youth – including women and girls - who need to fill the job market to offer their own economic contributions to their families, communities, and country. We are honored that you visited the United States and established new networks with participants who share your commitment to expand opportunities for other women.”

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.