On March 25, 2015, at 8:30 a.m, the United States and Japanese governments will jointly host a seminar promoting women’s economic empowerment at the Cambodia Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  The event will bring together women entrepreneurs, donors, and community organizations for an interactive half-day seminar focused on cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset for increasing women’s economic empowerment in Cambodia.  This event is a welcome symbol of shared U.S. and Japanese objectives in Cambodia as well as an example of U.S.-Japan collaboration in the region through the Friends of the Lower Mekong.  The seminar furthers objectives outlined in the joint fact sheetU.S.-Japan Global and Regional Cooperation, issued by President Obama and Prime Minister Abe in April 2014.

The event will also showcase the Women’s Entrepreneurial Centers of Resources, Education, Access and Training for Economic Empowerment (WECREATE) project, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State.  WECREATE Centers are designed to help women start businesses and build business capacity of women-led enterprises as they transition to formally registered companies. WECREATE is currently developing a center in Cambodia ‎(WECREATE | Cambodia).

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Julie Chung, will give opening remarks at the seminar and will be joined by Cambodian Secretary of State for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs Chan Sorey and Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Yuji Kumamaru.  Approximately 150 Cambodian business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and NGO representatives will attend the event.

Members of the media are invited to attend the event opening, which will take place at the Angkor-Kizuna Hall, Cambodia-Japan Center, Phnom Penh on March 25, from 8:15-9:15 a.m.