Proudly Launching the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs in Malta

During a reception on August 30, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Gwendolyn “Wendy” Green welcomed over 80 women, who applied for the U.S. Department of State’s 2022 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). This year, the U.S. Embassy has partnered with The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise, and Industry to implement the second iteration in Malta of this global entrepreneurship program.

The AWE program provides women entrepreneurs around the world with the knowledge, networks, and access needed to start and scale successful businesses. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a competition, pitching business plans they develop through the AWE training for seed funding to invest in their businesses.

In brief comments, Chargé Green said, “I am incredibly proud to launch this global entrepreneurship program in Malta for the second year running following the great success of last year’s program.” She noted that this year’s program attracted an even larger cohort of women with a love of innovation and a dream to realize. Chargé Green said, “Women entrepreneurs like you are a growing market force and have a critical role to play in building dynamic, innovative economies. This is what the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs is all about.”

In her remarks, Marisa Xuereb, President of The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise, and Industry, said, “We want to continue to empower women in the entrepreneurial world and give them the necessary tools to succeed and grow in their own right.” Ms Xuereb said, “The Malta Chamber partnered with the U.S. Embassy because we know the fundamental role that women in business can play for the growth of the economy and development of their wellbeing.”

AWE supports the U.S. government’s National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality aimed at advancing women’s economic empowerment globally. Implemented in nearly 90 countries, AWE has helped more than 16,000 women entrepreneurs around the world to grow their businesses and adapt to new economic realities under COVID-19.