As Ivanka Trump wraps up a fruitful visit to Ethiopia, she had the chance to meet humankind’s original empowered woman- Lucy.
The US Embassy in Addis Ababa noted that Lucy is a reminder of our shared history and that we would have no past and can have no future without ensuring women are included in our society.
Senior White House advisor and daughter of United States president, Ivanka Trump, concluded her visit to Ethiopia describing the two-day experience as an “incredible trip.”
She arrived in the country on Sunday hailing Addis Ababa as the “diplomatic capital of Africa and the continent’s highest city.” The period of her stay has been packed since arrival through to departure.
In between the period, she savored the acclaimed Ethiopian coffee, signed deals aimed at women empowerment – the reason she embarked on the trip, paid tribute to victims of Boeing 737 MAX accident and met Lucy.
She also did high-level diplomacy meeting with the President Sahle-Work Zewde, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and holding talks with the deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission.
Soon on arrival and holding talks with the U.S. ambassador and other embassy officials, Ivanka set out to work, meeting Ethiopian Women in Coffee Association, EWIC.
Describing them as inspiring female entrepreneurs she noted that with U.S. development agency, USAID, support, they were overcoming a lack of access to capital and growing their businesses.
Next stop, to the premises of Muya Ethiopia, an outfit that engages in the production of traditional fabrics. The OPIC, a US government outfit that helps businesses enter emerging markets, signed a deal with Muya. She capped the day’s work as “incredible.”
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office said when the two met, they discussed issues of mutual interest. “Ms. Trump is in Ethiopia as part of the Women’s Global Development & Prosperity initiative aimed at advancing global women’s economic empowerment,” the PM’s office reiterated.
Before meeting Abiy, Ivanka had held talks with President Sahle-Work Zewde. State run FBC said Ivanka spoke about the White House Women Empowerment drive she was leading whiles the president also highlighted Ethiopia’s efforts at empowering women across the board.
They later attended the African Women’s Economic Empowerment Dialogue meeting at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) headquarters.
Then she met with the AUC deputy chair and other commissioners for deliberations aimed at economic empowerment of women across Africa.