Conference on the development of women entrepreneurship

The Global Entrepreneurship Week, which is celebrated on the initiative of the US Embassy and the US Agency for International Development (USAİD), on November 17 in Baku hosts conference "Development of women's entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan."

The forum was attended by representatives of state structures, public organizations of Azerbaijan, embassies, international organizations, think tanks and universities.

The conference highlighted the importance of small business, including female entrepreneurship.

 The US Ambassador Robert Cekuta noted that the United States are working to improve women's economic opportunities of Azerbaijan and is ready for partnership with Azerbaijan for economic reforms.

USAID has supported the project to promote small business consortium of local NGOs.

"Our consortium has presented two packages of proposals to the President on the development of economic reform and enterprise. The third package we will present in the coming days. The government is studying our proposal and take into account," said Sabit Bagirov, the head of the Foundation for Assistance to Entrepreneurship and Market Economy.

In his opinion,  the documents signed by the President Aliyev in October-November, will serve as an important impetus for the development of business in the country.  The MP Vahid Ahmadov noted the importance of attention to the development of non-oil sector. In this sense, the development of small and medium-sized businesses is important, including female entrepreneurship.

 The manager on Azerbaijan  in the  World Bank Larisa Leshchenki said that the income of organizations led by women are higher.

The head of the Baku office of EBRD Neelie McCain noted the importance of expanding lending to women. According to him, studies show that women in small and medium businesses  repay loans in time. Global Entrepreneurship Week is held since 2008, covering 160 countries; and 30,000 events involving 10 million people are held. -03C-