UN Women - A partner of the Women Entrepreneurs’ National Business Forum
Date:
Female entrepreneurs from all over Georgia gathered at the Women Entrepreneurs’ National Business Forum in Batumi on 8 March 2019, International Women’s Day.
The main objectives of the event included building business relationships, increasing engagement in small and medium businesses, promoting access to finances, promoting activities, enhancing knowledge and capacity-building.
The forum is organized annually by the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, together with the Adjara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Association of Businesswomen of Adjara, and Women’s Rooms. UN Women became a partner to the forum for the first time this year.
Four parallel trainings were held within the framework of the event. One of them - on how to expand a business - was supported by UN Women and was delivered with the involvement of the Academy of the Ministry of Finance. About 250 female delegates attended the forum, including the women entrepreneurs involved in the project “A Joint Action for Women’s Economic Empowerment in Georgia”, financed by the Government of Norway and implemented by UN Women.
“The goal of the Academy of the Ministry of Finance is to engage as many women as possible in entrepreneurial activities, or to expand existing businesses. This is a precondition for the economic growth of the country,” remarked Lasha Koberidze, an invited trainer from the Academy of the Ministry of Finance.
Attendee Nino Gabriadze reflected: “Unlike other fora, today we had an opportunity not only to build linkages but also to deepen our knowledge about issues such as business management, emotional intellect, marketing and more.” Nino, who owns wolfberry and raspberry plantations in Adjara’s Khelvachauri District, won this year’s Female Entrepreneur Award at the forum.
The forum participants were mostly representing small and medium businesses. This event is the largest communication platform for businesswomen in Georgia, giving them the opportunity to share their experience, engage in business networking and obtain information about available programmes focused on women’s engagement in business.