ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia women are praising efforts over the past month to increase their empowerment within the business sector of the country. In recent weeks, Ethiopian women have been able to increase their living by applying for loans at a nationwide bank launched by women for women. "Without the new loan I have got in the past few weeks, I would not have been able to start the process of creating my own medical clinic in the village," Hallelujah Desalign told Bikyanews.com. She recently established a small clinic about an hour outside Addis Ababa that gives women pre-natal care and children now have access to daily healthcare and medicine. "It's all because of the banking system and how women are helping women out," she added. She was referring to last month's launch of a bank pushed by 11 Ethiopian women and some 7400 shareholders with the aim to serve and support women and empowerment in the country. "This is a great time for women in Ethiopia," an economic consultant for the government told Bikyanews.com. "We are seeing initiatives that are helping to make better business opportunities for women and this will help boost our overall economy." Meaza Ashenafi, Chairperson of Bank Board of Directors, told reporters that 64 percent of the shareholders are women. Meaza revealed that the Bank has been launched with initial capital of 120 million Ethiopian Birr (about 18.5 Ethiopia Birr equals 1 US dollar), to be raised to 500 million Ethiopian Birr in two years time. The Chairperson noted that it is women's initiative potentially to be one of the biggest banks in Ethiopia. The bank launched its services with two branches in Bole and Bambis areas of Addis Ababa. The Chairperson stated that they would expand the bank's services by opening other branches in different parts of the country and also by using mobile bank. "We have launched the bank, the first women's bank in the country; and potentially be one of the biggest banks in Ethiopia. It is women's initiative. It was promoted by eleven Ethiopian women and we have over 7,000 shareholders," she said. She said they wanted to use mobile bank as it has huge potential to reach all. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mekonnen Manyazewal, Ethiopian's minister of trade, noted that the bank initiated by Ethiopian women would have its contribution to development activities in the country. The bank has said that it provides bank services uniquely in a manner it improves citizens' saving culture and loan services that promotes investment in the country. BN
