Closing Press Conference for the Project “Women in Progress – Capacity Building at the Local Level for Gender Economic Mainstreaming in Serbia”

Closing Press Conference for the Project “Women in Progress – Capacity Building at the Local Level for Gender Economic Mainstreaming in Serbia”

The Association of Business Women in Serbia held a closing press conference for the project “Women in Progress – Capacity building at the local level for gender economic mainstreaming in Serbia”, on November 20th 2013, at the Conference Hall of the National Bank of Serbia. The project was funded by the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia and the Office for cooperation with Civil Society of the Serbian Government. Local partners of ABW Serbia on this project were: Association of Business Women “Nadezda Petrovic” from Cacak, Association of Business Women “EVE” from Valjevo and Association of Business Women from Nis, and the Office for Local Economic Development of the Municipality of Bujanovac, Pešter Food Association from Novi Pazar and Association of Business Women “Vizija” from Kragujevac.

Over the course of 12 months during the project it is achieved that the existing associations are coordinated with activities, plans and their mutual cooperation. Furthermore, their cooperation with the ABW Serbia has been significantly improved. Amongst project’s achievements should be mentioned: the establishment of Association of Business Women in Bujanovac, with the support of local authorities; Association of Business Women in Novi Pazar was strengthened; the initiative for public advocacy was started in environments where women’s entrepreneurship was not acknowledged as an important factor for economic development; public advocacy priorities were defined in all of the 6 included regions (Nis, Kragujevac, Cacak, Valjevo, Novi Pazar and Bujanovac); ABW Serbia emphasized the inclusion of women in supply chains as a priority of national interest for women’s entrepreneurship; Film “Women in progress” was made and it talks about novelties and project development in all of the 6 cities in which it was taken.

Maybe the biggest acknowledgment of this project is the nomination for prestigious European Mention “European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2013” in the category Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit. The ceremony will be held on November 25th, 2013 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The mentions will be awarded by Antonio Tajani, vice president of the European commission. One of the projects will be awarded by prestigious Grand Prix of the jury.

Sanja Popovic Pantic, president of the ABW said: “I believe that, through future projects of the Association of Business Women, we will give our contribution, in order to strengthen the position of local Associations, so that they do not depend on local authorities, even though local authorities support is essential/ necessary. Also, it is very important that local Associations are capacitated to apply for projects, individually or through partnership with ABW Serbia, as well as with local partners and institutions relevant for development of women’s entrepreneurship in their vicinities.”