August 9, 2023: Advancing the economic security and prosperity of women and mitigating the impact of climate change are core components of American foreign policy. The U.S. Embassy in Mauritius, in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce, was pleased to support a forum today, August 9, to promote the economic empowerment of women in green technologies.
The theme of the forum was “Women in Green Technologies: Empowering Women to Lead Sustainability Initiatives,” and the objective of the forum was to explore and address challenges women face in leading initiatives and businesses that support efforts to address climate change in Mauritius and the Indian Ocean region. The forum also aimed to strengthen the Indian Ocean network of women working in green technologies, creating market opportunities in Mauritius for green tech products and services, and to explore potential opportunities with U.S. firms in the green tech sector.
Sarah Whitten from the United States Trade and Development Agency was the keynote speaker at the event. Specialized in project financing, Sarah Whitten outlined the various sources of financing available in developing sustainable development projects in Mauritius across the African continent, and the case for promoting diversity in the business sector.
During remarks at the event, Mauritian Minister of Energy and Public Utilities Georges Lesjongard thanked the U.S. Embassy for its effort to host today’s event and emphasized that the Ministry’s goal is “to ensure women receive full support when they choose to enter the renewable energy sector.”
In his remarks, U.S. Ambassador Henry Jardine said, “In Mauritius as in the United States, women have made strides in establishing themselves in key economic sectors; however, the glass ceiling is still a reality for women, across the board and across sectors. The field of green technology and energy efficiency is one of them. Investment in climate-related technologies is growing, but research indicates that male-led companies continue to receive the lion’s share of investment, raising concerns that the green transition is having little or no effect on the gender divide.” He continued by noting today’s forum would advance efforts to build linkages and networks between the U.S. and Mauritius, ensuring Mauritian women could tap into U.S. business opportunities in the field of green technologies, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
Panelists at the forum included representatives from the Economic Development Board, the Mauritius Institute of Directors, Business Mauritius, the Mauritius Commercial Bank, Mindex Group, and Lineage Invest.
The forum was funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Economic Bureau under its “Providing Opportunities for Women’s Economic Rise (POWER)” program.
