Balkan Women Business Asociations Agreed On Future Cooperation- December 5, 2005
Bucharest, Romania; December 5, 2005 - Over 80 members of 24 women business associations from Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey, agreed on the main aspects of a future cooperation in the region within the Conference of Balkan Women Business Associations. The event was organized by Center for International Private Enterprise- Romania Office (CIPE) on December 2-3, 2005, in Istanbul, Turkey.
The conference is an essential step in the project concerning the creation of the regional coalition of women business associations in the Balkans, developed by CIPE Romania with funding from National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The vision of this new project is to create a Balkan region in which women's roles and contributions to the economy and politics are recognized, women are treated as equal partners working to solve policy barriers and to create stability in the socio- economic environment. The project aims to create a network of women's business groups in the region that can actively promote a legislative agenda aiming to improve both the status of women entrepreneurs and the overall business environment.
The discussions focused on few models presented by the representatives of the women business associations who think about the future coalition as a platform for networking, information, training and advocacy. All the participants agreed on the necessity of annual meetings, e-communication and the development of a website that will serve as an info-center both for the members and the public. CIPE Romania will prepare a report on the proposals made during the conference and will organize an e-conference in January 2006 where the women business associations will move further with the planning of the new cooperation structure.
"The meeting was great and it was a pleasure for me to meet with the other ladies and to exchange information. It is absolutely clear now that we have a lot of common interests and a lot of work to do in our countries and in the region to foster and support women entrepreneurship and advocate for equal opportunities. This program is a very good opportunity to build our regional community of women in business, for the benefit for all women from the region.", says Nina Noeva, President of International Association of Professional and Business Women in Bulgaria (IAPBWB).
During the conference, the representatives of each country presented the results of the Needs Assessment Survey conducted by CIPE Romania to assess the women's level of involvement and ability in shaping public policies in the Balkan region. The results show that the associations have the general knowledge about what advocacy is, but they need more skill-building in the practical approach. Also, if women want to become a strong voice in the region, they will have to focus on the planning phase (strategy, commitment, analysis of resources). CIPE Romania is committed to address these issues and provide the women business associations in the Balkans with best practices in building advocacy campaigns.
The Conference of Balkan Women Business Associations also hosted the launch of the first regional edition of the 'Women of Success' CD featuring over 70 women who are having an impact on their communities and the business environment in their countries (Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, Romania and Turkey). 'Women of Success' CD is a project initiated and developed by CIPE Romania in 2002. Since then, over 170 women presented their stories, pointing out important moments in their lives, challenges encountered, lessons learned and plans for the future.
The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) is a non-profit, non-governmental American organization founded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1983 in the belief that economic freedom and political freedom are intertwined.
Over the last 20 years, CIPE has supported more than 800 local initiatives in more than 95 developing countries to organize business associations and involve businesspeople in policy advocacy, institutional reform, and responsible governance.
The Center for International Private Enterprise Romania started its activity in 2000 with a project to support business association development in the information technology, manufacturing, and tourism sectors, funded by USAID-Romania. CIPE also worked with multi-sector and women's associations, as they had members in each of the target sectors. Under this three-year program, CIPE was responsible for a number of activities including technical assistance for institutional development, support for public policy advocacy initiatives, information for targeted associations through forums, think tanks, and conferences, grants, creation of investment opportunities, and volunteer experts program.
In 2004, with financial support from National Endowment for Democracy, CIPE started a program dedicated to the creation and the development of the Coalition of Women Business Associations in Romania (CAFA).
For more information on CIPE activities, please visit the website:
www.ciperomania.org
The conference is an essential step in the project concerning the creation of the regional coalition of women business associations in the Balkans, developed by CIPE Romania with funding from National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The vision of this new project is to create a Balkan region in which women's roles and contributions to the economy and politics are recognized, women are treated as equal partners working to solve policy barriers and to create stability in the socio- economic environment. The project aims to create a network of women's business groups in the region that can actively promote a legislative agenda aiming to improve both the status of women entrepreneurs and the overall business environment.
The discussions focused on few models presented by the representatives of the women business associations who think about the future coalition as a platform for networking, information, training and advocacy. All the participants agreed on the necessity of annual meetings, e-communication and the development of a website that will serve as an info-center both for the members and the public. CIPE Romania will prepare a report on the proposals made during the conference and will organize an e-conference in January 2006 where the women business associations will move further with the planning of the new cooperation structure.
"The meeting was great and it was a pleasure for me to meet with the other ladies and to exchange information. It is absolutely clear now that we have a lot of common interests and a lot of work to do in our countries and in the region to foster and support women entrepreneurship and advocate for equal opportunities. This program is a very good opportunity to build our regional community of women in business, for the benefit for all women from the region.", says Nina Noeva, President of International Association of Professional and Business Women in Bulgaria (IAPBWB).
During the conference, the representatives of each country presented the results of the Needs Assessment Survey conducted by CIPE Romania to assess the women's level of involvement and ability in shaping public policies in the Balkan region. The results show that the associations have the general knowledge about what advocacy is, but they need more skill-building in the practical approach. Also, if women want to become a strong voice in the region, they will have to focus on the planning phase (strategy, commitment, analysis of resources). CIPE Romania is committed to address these issues and provide the women business associations in the Balkans with best practices in building advocacy campaigns.
The Conference of Balkan Women Business Associations also hosted the launch of the first regional edition of the 'Women of Success' CD featuring over 70 women who are having an impact on their communities and the business environment in their countries (Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, Romania and Turkey). 'Women of Success' CD is a project initiated and developed by CIPE Romania in 2002. Since then, over 170 women presented their stories, pointing out important moments in their lives, challenges encountered, lessons learned and plans for the future.
The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) is a non-profit, non-governmental American organization founded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1983 in the belief that economic freedom and political freedom are intertwined.
Over the last 20 years, CIPE has supported more than 800 local initiatives in more than 95 developing countries to organize business associations and involve businesspeople in policy advocacy, institutional reform, and responsible governance.
The Center for International Private Enterprise Romania started its activity in 2000 with a project to support business association development in the information technology, manufacturing, and tourism sectors, funded by USAID-Romania. CIPE also worked with multi-sector and women's associations, as they had members in each of the target sectors. Under this three-year program, CIPE was responsible for a number of activities including technical assistance for institutional development, support for public policy advocacy initiatives, information for targeted associations through forums, think tanks, and conferences, grants, creation of investment opportunities, and volunteer experts program.
In 2004, with financial support from National Endowment for Democracy, CIPE started a program dedicated to the creation and the development of the Coalition of Women Business Associations in Romania (CAFA).
For more information on CIPE activities, please visit the website:
www.ciperomania.org
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