INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
3-4 December 2010, Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan, Sofia
On December 3rd and 4th , 2010 an International Forum on Women Entrepreneurship took place at the Sofia  Sheraton hotel Bulgaria. The event was jointly organized by the Bulgarian Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE) and Meridian 22 Ltd
The purpose of the Forum was to encourage ladies’ business leadership and at popularise their active presence at managerial positions among the business circles as well as among the general public, by means of presenting, from one part, the activity of the companies they are in charge of, and from the other - by subjecting to discussion women entrepreneurship’s topics of present interest.
Among the Forum invitees were representatives of Bulgaria, Italy, Greece, Serbia and Romania.
The event was largely supported by the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism, Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA), Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The official opening was attended by H.E. the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, H.E. the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium, H.E. the Ambassador of Croatia to Sofia. The participants were greeted by the Deputy Minister of and Social Policy – Mr. Krassimir Popov and the Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov.
Mrs. Radka Stamenova – Chairwoman of the Bulgarian Association of Women Entrepreneurs – presented her report on women entrepreneurship in Europe. She also presented opportunities for financial support under projects in different business areas. Special attention in the report was devoted to the future BAWE activities such as: participation in European Network to promote Women’s Entrepreneurship and Women’s Entrepreneurship Portal as well as nomination of BAWE representatives for the European Network of female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors.
EU policy for women entrepreneurship encouragement and the situation in different member states have been presented by: Dr. M. Angerer, Trade representative, Embassy of Austria to Sofia; Mrs. Mrs. Giusy Ruggieri, Counselor, South-Est District, FIDAPA International Federation of Business and Professional Women - B.P.W. ITALY; Mrs. Eng. Maria Grapini, President of the Romanian Entrepreneur Women Association and Mrs. Slavica Mitic-Paolillo, President of the Serbian Entrepreneur Women Association.
Mr. Evgeni Angelov, Deputy Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, presented the Bulgarian State Policy in Supporting Women Entrepreneurship. Labour market policies for women entrepreneurship encouragement have been presented by Mrs. Mrs. Elka Dimitrova, Director, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. Mrs Boriana Mintcheva from BSMEPA presented the role of the Agency in supporting Women Entrepreneurship in Bulgaria. The CISCO-Bulgaria Institute for Entrepreneurship has been presented by Mrs. Milena Dumanova, Trade Director.
Mrs. Tiziana Carlino, General Secretary of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria gave a presentation on the role of European funds in developing bilateral cooperation in the field of women entrepreneurship. Mrs. Milena Dragomirova from the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism presented the program “Competitiveness”. The participants shared the opinion that the organization of information days in different parts of Bulgaria would be very useful.
In compliance with a decision of the Forum, a Memorandum was adopted on December 4, 2010. The document foresees closer cooperation between BAWE and governmental institutions in Bulgaria. Establishment of bilateral cooperation with similar organizations abroad is another short-term priority.
Good practices were presented by the Bulgarian companies Light Castle Winery Ltd., Panda IP Ltd., Panda Invest Ltd. etc.
POST FORUM INFO
I wish to express my satisfaction with the organization of the Forum.
It was an honor take part in the forum in Sofia.
Only together can we achieve the goals,
which are a necessity in the region of Southeast Europe.
Kind regards,
prof. Vesna Rusic, Republic of Serbia
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