Clemente: Banana Chip Entrepreneur
Confident in his God-given potential, Clemente can grow his business and mentor others.
Latin America + Caribbean
May 05, 2025
Life in Addis Ababa wasn’t easy for Minalu. Despite her qualifications as a nurse, she couldn’t find a job. Their living conditions were unsafe. And she couldn’t afford to provide her children with a quality education.
Unable to find a job, Minalu decided to make one. “I decided that if I was to start my own business, not only would I be able to earn a better income, but I could create jobs for others,” she said.
Becoming Competitive
Minalu began manufacturing, packaging, and distributing food products in her community. These included spices, cookies, and a traditional snack called kolo, which consists of roasted barley, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, and peanuts.
Business was slow at first. Minalu knew the challenges ahead were immense, but she was determined to provide a better life for her family. “To make that happen, I had to work hard, grow, and become competitive,” she said.
Eager to improve her business, Minalu attended an entrepreneurship training program organized by her local government. It was there that she learned about Enat Bank, a local partner of PW that seeks to empower women through finance. Impressed, she decided to take a closer look.
Packaged snacks ready to go to local supermarkets
Investing in Her Business
Minalu participated in a business training program hosted by Enat, where she learned about saving, money management, and balancing her expenses. Following the training, Minalu worked with a coach to develop a business plan, connect with potential customers, and navigate the challenges of running a small business.
“Her advice and encouragement were instrumental to our success,” Minalu said.
Now it was time to put her new skills to use. Minalu applied for a loan of $1,600, through PW and Enat Bank’s unique Access to capital intervention, which she used to purchase additional raw materials, upgrade her equipment, and hire more employees.
“This investment has significantly increased my production capacity and allowed me to reach a wider customer base,” she said.
An Independent Businesswoman
By investing in her business, Minalu increased her income, which she’s used to improve her family’s quality of life and provide her children with a quality education in a safe and comfortable learning environment. Minalu also reflected on the sense of accomplishment and independence she’s felt because of her successes as a businesswoman. And she’s equipped her five employees with the same, creating a ripple effect for families in her community.
Minalu plans to further enhance her business by acquiring a generator, which will overcome challenges brought on by power interruptions in her area. With a reliable power source, she can increase production capacity, improve efficiency, and further expand her business. She wants to hire 20 more employees to keep up with demand, supplying supermarkets in the capital as well as opening retail stores of her own.
Looking back at everything she’s accomplished so far, Minalu said, “I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given and strive to use my business to serve my community and make a positive impact.”
