Today, the U.S. Embassy in Suva marked the graduation of the fifth cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), with 106 participants completing the program. Since its inception in 2020, AWE has guided nearly 600 Fijian women, providing them with resources to launch and expand their businesses.
U.S. Ambassador to Fiji Marie C. Damour congratulated the graduates. "The U.S. Embassy is proud to support Fijian women who are building businesses and driving economic growth," said Ambassador Damour. "When Fiji prospers, the United States benefits too — our shared prosperity strengthens our trade ties, creates new markets, and supports a more stable and thriving Pacific region. Empowering women entrepreneurs is not just good for local communities, it’s good for global commerce and prosperity."
Ambassador Damour commended the graduates' dedication and entrepreneurial spirit, noting that successful women in business create jobs, grow industries, and inspire innovation. She stated, "Their leadership helps build economies that are open to new opportunities and stronger trading relationships."
Rahama Wright, founder and CEO of Shea Yeleen, delivered a keynote address on economic prosperity through the U.S. Embassy's Visiting Speaker Program. She emphasized sustainable livelihoods as a means to transform communities and provided strategies for graduates to grow their businesses for social impact and market success. While in Fiji, Wright is engaging with small- and medium-sized enterprises like Duavata Collective, Fiji Agromarketing, and the University of the South Pacific’s School of Postgraduate Studies.
The ceremony concluded with recognition of AWE program partners: the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council and Makoi Women’s Vocational Centre facilitated this initiative. The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs is a global project by the U.S. Department of State aimed at equipping women worldwide with knowledge, networks, and access necessary to start successful businesses. In Fiji, this seven-month program blends online learning with workshops, mentorships, hands-on experience including outdoor markets where participants sell their products.
By investing in entrepreneurs through AWE, economic growth is driven forward while fostering innovation across the Pacific.