Ambassador encourages participants at Entrepreneur workshop
In Commemoration of Global Entrepreneurship Week which runs from November 16-20, 2020, United States of America’s Ambassador Joseph Cella met with and encouraged emerging entrepreneurs at two embassysupported workshops on November 19.
The United States Embassy hosted an entrepreneurship workshop where Ambassador Cella gave opening remarks.
Then he visited local women entrepreneurs participating in the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE).
31-year-old women entrepreneur, Ruth Suliano said the support for women entrepreneurs was endless and the resources provided to them plays a vital role in their business. “I currently operate a home-based online business selling health and beauty products and this workshop has provided me to learn new things with the business trends,”
she said.
Ambassador Cella said: “It is a joy meeting and celebrating with resilient and innovative local women entrepreneurs in Fiji.
“It is a delight to build bridges with my colleagues at the US Embassy in Suva, connecting local experts with very skilled local artisans, and educating them on important business skills necessary to be successful entrepreneurs. “The US Government is committed to promoting entrepreneurship internationally to stimulate local
economic growth, create better quality jobs, open new markets for the US and increase global economic security and prosperity.” Ambassador Cella celebrated entrepreneurship week by opening a workshop for new business owners and business students led by Embassy intern and USP student, Triveshni Sharma.
She shared her experiences in opening and running a small business, facilitated a discussion on sustainable entrepreneurship and shared skills in card and ornament
making. The participants also watched a video of Ambassador Cella’s mother, Mrs Jay Cella sharing her advice for small business leaders.
Following the workshop, Ambassador Cella toured the Makoi Women’s Vocational Centre, one of the implementing partners for the AWE programme. Ambassador Cella met with some of the pioneering women participating in the programme who displayed their skills and told their stories of struggle and success.
He also met with the leadership and donated books to the centre. Global Entrepreneurship Week is a collection of tens of thousands of events, activities, and competitions each November that inspire millions to explore their potential as an entrepreneur while fostering connections and increasing collaboration within their ecosystems. These programmes are part of the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative.