SPEECHES

“Growing Your Business Workshop” by Philip .R. Drouin Charge de Affairs,a.i.March 29,2007

March 29, 2007

Good morning.  For those of you whom I have not yet had the opportunity to meet, I am Philip Drouin, the Deputy Chief of Mission here at the U.S. Embassy in Gaborone.  On behalf of Ambassador Katherine Canavan, I would like to welcome you to the Embassy and thank you for coming this morning.

 

 

The scheduling of this morning’s “Growing Your Business” workshop and focus on businesswomen in Botswana is particularly apt, as March is Women’s History Month in the United States.   The theme of this year’s celebration is “Generations of Women Moving History Forward.”  Moving history forward is a process of individuals coming together for the greater good of society and confirming the idea that individuals working together can be effective in building a better, more compassionate world. 

 

 

In terms of the U.S. economy, this means not only women in the workforce earning incomes for their families, but also women entrepreneurs creating jobs for their fellow Americans.   In the United States today, majority women-owned firms are growing at a rate nearly twice the U.S. average.  These firms contribute nearly seven trillion Pula each year in revenues to our economy and create jobs for over 7 million people.  

 

 

The crowning jewel of Botswana’s economy has long been diamonds, but the greatest hope for new economic growth and continued prosperity is the largely untapped resource represented in this room today: Botswana businesswomen and women entrepreneurs, who have the potential to transform Botswana’s economy just as women have transformed the economy of the United States.  You all have the power to make this a multi—faceted economy with lots of shine and sparkle  like Botswana’s gem quality diamonds, in demand worldwide.

 

 

We have an ambitious schedule for you this morning.  Using our video conference capability, we are going to connect with two of our human resource consultants from the U.S. Embassy in Paris:  Linda Raiola and Michele McCabe.    Linda and Michelle will conduct an hour long presentation on “Growing Your Business” that will focus on analyzing opportunities, developing and marketing your business, taking action for growth, and key elements of running a successful business.   Their presentation is designed to facilitate discussion and will leave time for questions and answers. 

 

 

We also have two speakers joining us in person: Pamela Ward  and Amanda Hilligas.   Pamela is a member of the U.S. Commercial Service and is based in South Africa and Amanda joins us from the USAID Southern Africa Global Competitiveness Hub based right here in Gaborone.  

 

 

I hope you find this a useful and productive workshop.  We are also looking forward to learning from you.  You are the business experts in Botswana.  And as I suggested earlier, you’ve got the power!  The U.S. Embassy is always looking for opportunities to promote trade between the United States and Botswana, to find business partners for U.S. companies and franchisees, and to communicate and network with all members of Botswana society who are interested in working together toward an even more prosperous tomorrow.

 

 

Thank you again for coming here today.  Thank you again for joining in our celebration of “Generations of Women Moving History Forward.”  Please allow me close by saluting the vision, creativity, dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit of the wonderful women of Botswana and Africa.  Pula!