Empowering women U.S. Consulate in Kolkata empowers 25 women entrepreneurs in the Northeast

As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata, in partnership with a Shillong-based nonprofit, hosted a boot camp for 25 selected women entrepreneurs from the northeast from India, according to a statement.

The two-day program took place at the American Center in Kolkata from November 12.

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program, funded by the Office of Education and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, implements the initiative in more than 50 countries around the world and has engaged with more than 5,000 women entrepreneurs despite the challenges of the pandemic.

The AWE program led by the United States Consulate General in Kolkata marks the first such initiative in India.

It has supported 150 entrepreneurs and start-up business owners from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagland through a structured online course from the University of Arizona, the consulate in the press release.

Encouraged by the first program, the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata will launch the second edition of AWE for 75 start-ups in Bihar and Jharkhand on November 19, he said.

Consul General Melinda Pavek said, “The United States strongly believes in empowering women through entrepreneurship and is a strong advocate for women’s equality and inclusion in all public enterprises. These are difficult times indeed, but an opportunity for us to show the strength and depth of our bilateral relationship. “

She also said: “I am proud of how we at the Kolkata Consulate have continued to adapt our programs to support entrepreneurs in our region.

While the program had to move to a virtual platform, the consulate was able to hold three in-person workshops in Dimapur, Shillong and Imphal in strict compliance with Covid protocol and security measures, Pavek said.

The 25 best entrepreneurs from the northeast region would participate in a business presentation session, which would be judged by a jury.

The top performers will receive seed funding and / or entry places as part of the January 2022 cohort of an incubation program at the US center in Delhi, the statement added.