Fana Youth Saving and Credit Cooperative Launches New Branch in Entcho to Empower Young Entrepreneurs

Fana Youth Saving and Credit Cooperative officially inaugurated its new branch in Entcho on Tuesday, marking a strategic milestone in expanding youth-centered financial services in the region. The launch was held in partnership with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), with both organizations collaborating to promote the event under the global theme of “Together WE Build” for Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2025. The ceremony brought together local government officials, youth entrepreneurs, cooperative members, financial sector representatives, and community leaders. The opening ceremony emphasized the urgency of strengthening youth financial inclusion, enhancing business mentorship, and creating sustainable economic pathways for young entrepreneurs. In his keynote remarks, Mr. Alemayehu, Operational Manager of Fana, underscored the cooperative’s commitment to providing accessible savings programs and affordable credit facilities tailored to the needs of youth-led enterprises. He noted that cooperatives play a vital role in unlocking business potential, fostering resilience, and enabling young people to transform innovative ideas into thriving ventures. Participants also engaged in high-level discussions on collaborative strategies to deepen community engagement, strengthen partnerships with local authorities, and scale entrepreneurship support systems. The forum identified key opportunities to integrate capacity-building, financial literacy, and market linkage initiatives into the cooperative’s service offerings, with EDI contributing its expertise in entrepreneurial training. Leaders present at the event reaffirmed their support, highlighting that the new branch will serve not only as a financial service point but also as a dynamic ecosystem hub for innovation, mentorship, and enterprise growth in Entcho. With its doors now open, the Entcho branch is expected to accelerate youth economic participation, promote a savings culture, and expand fair access to capital—ultimately contributing to inclusive local development and job creation. Fana Youth Saving and Credit Cooperative and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute reiterated their call for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that youth-led enterprises continue to receive the resources, guidance, and financing needed to prosper.