"Women can be the rock on which a freer, safer, more prosperous Africa is built. They just need the opportunity." - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

In 2010 Secretary Clinton launched the African Women's Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) which seeks to equip African businesswomen with the tools and opportunities to accelerate the growth of their businesses, become leaders in their communities and drive social and economic progress in Africa. Investing in women's entrepreneurship helps yield stronger economies and communities, that's why Secretary Clinton put women and girls at the center of this country's foreign policy priorities. Through AWEP, the U.S. Department of State also advances the Secretary's Policy Guidance on Promoting Gender Equality through civic and economic participation in sub-Saharan Africa.

AWEP 2012 will take place from June 4-22 of this year, when approximately 40 leading women entrepreneurs from sub-Saharan Africa will participate in the third AWEP International Visitor Leadership Program. The program will split into small, sector-specific groups, visiting cities throughout the U.S.  The participants visiting Los Angeles are all entrepreneurs in the design, fashion and textile industries. The program will provide the women with an opportunity to meet and network with U.S. businesspeople, policy makers, industry associations, groups that advocate for women's economic opportunities and multilateral development organizations.