Ambassador Aponte Opens Seminar on Export Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs

U.S. Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponte opened the seminar "Exports - The Pathway to Prosperity.  Opportunities Exist – How to Take Advantage of Them" on Tuesday, November 30th. An enthusiastic audience of women entrepreneurs from throughout Central America participated in the conference, which was organized by the Salvadoran chapter of Vital Voices and the Embassy of the United States under the Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas initiative.

"What we want to achieve here is not just talk, but action," stressed the Ambassador in her opening remarks.  The diplomat underscored the importance of such forums to promote market access, financing and training for women who have the potential to export products and services to markets in Central America, the United States and Europe.

Keynote speaker Beth Brooke, Vice President of Ernst & Young and among the world’s 100 most powerful women according to Forbes magazine, addressed the issue of "Opportunities and Benefits of Entrepreneurship". Other prominent Salvadoran and Central American leaders spoke on such topics as "The Vast Opportunity for Export: Products and External Markets in Figures" with Yolanda Mayora, General Secretary of SIECA and "The Export Process" with Silvia Cuéllar, Executive Director COEXPORT.

This is the first in a series of four events that will be supported by the U.S. Embassy and coordinated by the Vital Voices under the Pathways to Prosperity partnership with the goal of helping to stimulate regional economic growth through supporting women entrepreneurs.

As explained by Ambassador Aponte, these seminars will promote networking and enhance practical skills in such important areas as access funding, brand positioning and mastering the logistics of exporting.  "We want to develop your entrepreneurial skills, forge partnerships and build alliances that will allow you to take your business to the next level," she said.

The Ambassador congratulated the conference participants describing their efforts as “creating a truly new pathway to prosperity that will unleash the potential of women in El Salvador to promote economic growth and opportunity throughout the country".