Ambassador Hakimi supports Peace through Business Program

WASHINGTON, DC (PAN have successfully completed the “Peace Through Business Program” held in Washington this week.

The program provides long-term business education to women entrepreneurs from numerous countries.

The program has three components: first, the women complete an in-country education curriculum; second, they attend the leadership and development training in the United States; and finally they implement their business plans in their home countries.

This year’s theme was “Women, Step Up!” As part of the program, the Afghan Ambassador to the US, Ekili Hakimi, met with various women from Afghanistan, as well as from Rwanda and the United States, to encourage them and provide access to resources.

In his keynote address at the graduation dinner, Hakimi said women could only be empowered through education and employment.

He also said, “There should be more focus on demand-driven and long-term projects that have a sustainable impact on women and their families, such as those which can help women become economically self-sufficient.”

“We women understand the consequences of war because we suffer the most in times of instability,” said the ambassador’s wife at an embassy reception.

Melanne Verveer, the US Ambassador of Global Women’s Affairs, also addressed the graduation ceremony.

The program also included remarks by Dr. Terry Neese, CEO and founder of the Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW), and a video message from former First Lady Laura Bush.

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