Third WOMEX IPLE Meeting Held in Pécs: Results of Regional Research on Women in Export-Oriented SMEs Presented

Third WOMEX IPLE Meeting Held in Pécs: Results of Regional Research on Women in Export-Oriented SMEs Presented

23.04.2026

From April 21 to 23, 2026, the third IPLE (International Policy Learning Event) meeting of the WOMEX – The Role of Women in the Competitiveness of Exporting SMEs project was held in Pécs, Hungary. WOMEX is a European project co-funded by the Interreg Europe programme and supported by the European Union.

The meeting was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pécs-Baranya (CCIPB) and brought together representatives of partner organizations and stakeholders from six European countries, with the aim of exchanging knowledge, experiences, and research results on the position of women in export-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The Association of Business Women in Serbia was represented by Dragana Panajotović, Executive Director; Sonja Pecelj, Financial Manager; and PhD Dušica Semenčenko, Secretary and Member of the Management Board of the Association. As part of the session dedicated to presenting the results of regional mapping, external expert Jovana Obradović also joined online. As the author of the Serbian national report “Current Situation Analysis: Women’s Segregation in Export-Oriented SMEs,” she presented the key findings of the research conducted in Serbia.

The central part of the programme was dedicated to the presentation and joint evaluation of regional studies on gender bias in export-oriented SMEs prepared by all project partners. Through quantitative and qualitative analyses, participants discussed the challenges faced by women owners and leaders of exporting companies, as well as opportunities for improving public policies and support instruments. Based on the presented national studies, a comparative interregional analysis will be developed as one of the key outputs of the WOMEX project.

Special emphasis was placed on the exchange of best practices and historical models of women’s leadership in industrial development. Participants visited the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, where a presentation was organized on the women of the Zsolnay family, who, as artists, designers, and managers during the 19th and early 20th centuries, made a significant contribution to the development and international reputation of the renowned Zsolnay ceramics and porcelain manufactory.

During the meeting, a Steering Committee meeting of the project partners was also held, focusing on the next steps in project implementation, the communication strategy, and the further development of recommendations for improving support policies for women in export activities.

In addition to the working programme, the hosts organized a sightseeing tour of the city of Pécs, a visit to the underground cellars of the Littke Pezsgőház sparkling wine factory, as well as several networking activities with local stakeholders and representatives of the business community, further encouraging international networking and the exchange of experiences among partners.

About the project: WOMEX – The Role of Women in the Competitiveness of Exporting SMEs is a European project co-funded by the Interreg Europe programme and supported by the European Union. The project runs until July 2029 and is aimed at improving public policies and transforming business culture so that equal access of women to international trade becomes an integral part of the competitiveness and sustainable growth of export-oriented SMEs. The project consortium consists of nine partners from six European countries: Spain, Poland, Serbia, Lithuania, Austria, and Hungary.