Over the past decade, Ethiopia has achieved high economic growth and establishing the country among the fastest growing economies both in Africa and in the developing world. Ethiopia, with a population of more than 109 million, is quickly becoming a hot spot for both men and women, particularly following reforms made by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed which empowers women even in their political participation.
Indeed, there are two types of female entrepreneurs in Ethiopia, those in a rural environment who want to supplement their family income and an urban entrepreneur who focuses on a tech-based startup or one that empowers vulnerable women. Along with the social and political role of Ethiopian women, currently, they are seemingly participating in the economic sector.
As the world is celebrating the International Women’s Day today, The Ethiopian Herald is interested to introduce some of women entrepreneurs who are playing unceasing role for improving the economy of their own and others’ who are working with them coupled with sharing the government’s burden in reducing unemployment.
Congratulating all women across the world for March 8 which is commemorated as “International Women’s Day”, Hiwot Tsegaye, Founder and General Manager of BOQA Leather and Leather Products Manufacturing said, a woman should not open the door for every negative factor that can restrict her dream to become an entrepreneur.
“No matter how hard for me to become a founder and a general manager for my company, I was not ready to give my ear for many bottlenecks, rather I was only to think about my dream to become an entrepreneur. And finally I did it”, she noted.
With its mission to produce leather products with a greater class and value using cutting-edge technology and constant innovation and creativity for the international and domestic markets, BOQA is among the 17 entrepreneurs who have been awarded a 5,000 USD seed funding praise from the former Job Creation Commission, xHub program and master card Foundation.
As to her, the company has get started its production around Megenagna area as soon as they received the seed funding amount. Accordingly, during the past six months the company has earned total revenue of more than 600,000 Birr from exporting its products to South Africa. The company has also secured a one year agreement with one of the company based in South Africa.
She further said that, BOQA Leather is an Ethiopian leather manufacturing company that specializes in the production of premium quality handcrafted unisex designs, tote bags, backpacks, pocket choppers, shoes, and more to potential buyers thereby improving their profit margins and revenues.
Noting their leather materials are uniquely selected and products are unique in style, she stated that they also use the extra materials from these bags to make rugs she elucidated that the company will bring more foreign currency for the country, increase employment and encourage the use of the country’s resources through exporting the products to different countries.
The company aims to empower socio-economically disadvantaged and vulnerable women from low-income backgrounds by involving them in the manufacturing of leather and leather products and encouraging them to become entrepreneurs. Mentioning the company has created about 50 job opportunities for youths, she explained that her office is working to create more than 100 job opportunities for the future. She also stated that they are working with different local and foreign partnership for better achievements.
Rewla Ephrem, Co-founder and production Manager of Ray Cosmetics is also the other women entrepreneur working on the production of cosmetics. Ray cosmetics aim in establishing a self-friendly environment in Ethiopia. According to her, they work in reusing the agro-waste fish skin and scale as a raw material with other natural additives to produce pure natural collagen-based skin and hair care products.
With an initial investment capital of 1.2 million Birr, the company is working for creating numerous of job opportunities for youths. Currently, the company has about 50 staff members, Rewla pointed out, calling women to build their self-confidence and reliance. Mentioning that working with men is of paramount importance for further economic benefits, for women and the country as well, she recommended women to encourage themselves to become confidant entrepreneurs.
She further noted that her company is found at Bahirdar city, which is a city of a seafood paradise. Therefore it will not be as such difficult to get success from this startup. The protein extracted in further processes from the fish waste gives a unique anti-aging, wound-healing and detoxifying characteristic to their products, she noticed.
Bezawit Admasu is a founder and General Manager of FreelanSira. She said that she has started this business with an initial investment capital of ETB 110,000. Being thankful for the xHub, JCC and UNDP, she stated that this investment will create job opportunity for more than hundred thousand citizens by the coming five years.
“FreelanSira is an online platform, website and mobile app with a database of professional freelancers making them easily accessed by clients. It will have contracts with HR companies to get clients through financial institutions, get online payment services, training institutions, and give training to our staff and clients,” she explained.
As to her, her business solves lack of interactive online freelance job platform; solves the challenges of organizations in temporary jobs filling; challenges of getting efficient deliverables (Task Management); absence of categorized and detailed freelancer profile; challenges of retired professionals and stay-at-home professional moms to make income from where ever they are.
Similarly, Kalkidan Tadesse and Wubit Tadesse founder and co-founder of Happy Bio-Degradable Sanitary pads are also the graduate entrepreneurs. They accentuated: “With an initial investment of 43 million ETB, our startup will create more than six thousand job opportunities for Ethiopians with in the coming three years.”
According to them, the situation that they have suffered in their University life has led them to create their own job which has also a benefit for others. Happy Biodegradable Sanitary Pad is an Ethiopian-based social enterprise aiming to create low-cost hygiene products from banana fiber or false banana (ENSET) that is only cultivated in Ethiopia, they stated.
For years, women have resorted to using rags and clothes during their menstruation period, which leads to infections and does not provide proper protection. Without proper protection, women struggle to carry out their normal activities such as work and school. Conventional pads use chemicals that are very strong because they are trying to absorb fluid as much as possible.
As to them, their company has solved many problems through manufacturing fully organic, chemical and plastic-free sanitary pads that are affordable and 100 percent biodegradable within 6 months of disposal. Currently they are dealing with investors to be operational.
All in all Ethiopian women entrepreneurs are working seemingly in killing many birds with a stone. Particularly they are supporting their finance, supporting others in creating job opportunities coupled with helping the government on achieving its mission in reducing joblessness over the country.
BY HIZKEL HAILU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2022
