KATHMANDU, May 29: The United States Ambassador to Nepal, Dean R. Thompson, officially launched Nepal’s first-ever Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
The three-day residential bootcamp brings together 30 aspiring women entrepreneurs from across Nepal, providing them with intensive business training, mentorship, and resources to help scale their ventures. The program is a US government-supported initiative that aims to foster economic growth by equipping women with tools to lead innovative and sustainable businesses.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ambassador Thompson described AWE as “a movement, not just a program,” emphasizing the importance of women's empowerment in driving economic progress and community well-being. “When women are empowered, economies grow, communities flourish, and lasting partnerships take root,” he said.
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The initiative, which is powered by the globally recognized “Najafi 100 Million Learners” course, is supported by top Nepali business leaders and members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Nepal (AmCham). Over the next six months, participants will continue to receive mentorship and access to a network of industry experts, helping them turn ideas into thriving enterprises.
Ambassador Thompson highlighted the program’s roots in the U.S. State Department, which launched AWE globally in 2019 to provide women with the skills and networks needed to start and grow small businesses. “From the markets of Kathmandu to the villages in the Himalayas, the spirit of entrepreneurship is present,” he said, “Women in Nepal have always played an important role in the economy, from agriculture to IT, but we recognize they face unique challenges in accessing resources and networks.”
He also cited the U.S. Development Finance Corporation’s efforts to provide funding to small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly women-led ventures, as an example of broader U.S. support for inclusive economic development.
The AWE program aims not only to support individual women but also to foster trade and collaboration between Nepali and American businesses, creating new pathways for economic cooperation and local job creation. “If you’ve been involved with this bootcamp, please know that this is just the beginning,” Ambassador Thompson told the participants, “You are not alone, you have a network of support behind you.”
