AID grant to OEF International for a project entitled women in business

OEF will establish Businesswomen"s Councils to promote women"s enterprises in each country and link them to its own Women in Business Committee and other U.S. businesswomen"s associations. The Councils, which will be composed of high-level women entrepreneurs and corporate executives, will be responsible for identifying TA needs and resources in their own countries, and when necessary, procuring TA through the project from the United States. Each Council will also convene delegations of businesswomen to travel to the United States and will receive delegations of U.S. businesswomen. OEF will also (1) sponsor an international trade exhibition for U.S. and Central American participants to promote women"s products and services, and (2) establish a guarantee credit fund of $400,000 for women entrepreneurs. Depending on the needs and resources of the participating countries, OEF will target specific sectors, e.g., food production and processing; manufacturing (from light assembly operations to crafts); communications, legal, and banking services; and tourism. More than 21,000 women are expected to benefit from the project.