After competition in Moldova, organized by Angela chicu, president Association Professional Women from Moldova, Victoria Braniste from Criuleni participate on 07 July 2015/ Hotel Hilton/ Sofia- International Conference on the topic “Women entrepreneurship in South East Europe – challenges, potential and contribution to the economy”. It gathered on one place women politicians, women entrepreneurs and presidents of different women business associations from several Balkan countries and Germany. Organizer and host of the event was the Balkan Association of Women in Crafts along with the Balkan Small Business Association.
Formal guests of the event were Mrs. Snezana Jonica, member of Parliament of Montenegro, Mrs. Zdenka Loncar, deputy minister of entrepreneurship and craftsmanship in Croatia and Ermira Kasya, European University of Tirana and Nora Malay, Deputy Minister of Education of Albania who are working actively on the issue of women entrepreneurship in the Balkan region. The international conference was followed by an international completion “Family-friendly company in South East Europe”. It is the third year that this completion is being organized and the companies that took part in it were the winners of the national competition from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Kosovo, Montenegro.
The programme of the conference included several interesting reports about the current state and the existing challenges to women entrepreneurship. The introductory report on women entrepreneurship in SEE was presented by Dr. Nina Zhivkova, who presented facts in figures about the role of women on the labour market, their contribution to the GDP and the great potential they have for turning into driving force of the national economies and into developing innovations. Mrs. Anke Bruehl Chuck presented different credit lines and tools and consulting services for support and enhancement of women entrepreneurs in Germany. The formal guests that attended the conference gave an overview of the present situation, legal framework conditions and policy aimed at greater women business initiative and overcoming the risks and hindrances to starting their own business. Mrs. Jasmina Ivanova, long-term entrepreneur working in the beauty and cosmetics sector and former chairwoman of the Regional Chamber of Crafts of Vratsa gave some historical background of the topic and emphasized the importance of women into developing innovations. She pointed out how essential it is for the countries in South East Europe to work on improving the business environment and the framework conditions for the start-up and for all entrepreneurs no matter the sex or age.
The international competition “Family-friendly company in South East Europe 2015” was preceded by national competitions where companies divided in two categories: 1-small company with less than 20 employees and 2 – company with more than 20 employees had competed for the award “family-friendly company” in their own country. The winners of the national competitions had to fill in special questionnaires that assessed their corporate policy related to the reconciliation of personal and professional life. Their responses were evaluated by an International jury that appointed as winners the following companies: in the category small company, less than 20 employees – Sporting N.T, Kosovo, producer of sports goods, baseball and volleyball constructions, fitness facilities; in the category bigger company, more than 20 employees, VORI Jordanka Ltd, Macedonia, producer of canned food, fruits and vegetables processing. Both winners were awarded specially designed statuette “Family-friendly company in South East Europe 2015” and the small company received a voucher for a weekend in Hotel Hilton Sofia by the marketing manager of Hotel Hilton Sofia.
