Around 300 women from the fields of business, entrepreneurship, institutions, local and international organizations and the professional community participated in the conference “Women in Business – She Rises 2026”, the first event of its kind in Kosovo dedicated to the economic empowerment of women, the promotion of entrepreneurship and the advancement of women’s leadership.
The conference was organized by the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation in cooperation with G7, Women’s Economic Forum, Agency for Gender Equality and UN Women.
In her opening remarks, the Acting Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, said that the history of women is a history of rise, perseverance and success, emphasizing that women have continuously proven their irreplaceable role in the development of society, the economy and institutions..
She praised the progress achieved in recent years, noting that women now own 18 percent of businesses in Kosovo, compared to 10 percent in 2017. According to her, this year alone, one in three newly registered businesses is owned by a woman, while 40 percent of the seats on the boards of joint-stock companies are held by women.
Kusari-Lila also announced that for the first time, the Division for Women Entrepreneurs will be established within the Entrepreneurship Agency, while support schemes for women in business will be institutionalized and expanded to provide more financial and professional support.
The attendees were also addressed by the acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, who said that women who invest, run businesses and create jobs make a direct contribution to building a stronger and more sustainable economy.
He stressed that economic development cannot proceed with “half of society’s potential”, while assessing that support for women entrepreneurs should continue through subsidies, access to finance and concrete policies. Kurti announced that 399 businesses have been supported, of which 55 are owned or co-owned by women.
Four discussion panels were held as part of the conference, addressing the challenges and opportunities for women in the economy. The first panel, with the participation of Deputy Minister Jeton Mehmeti, Minister Armend Muja, Minister Andin Hoti and Director of the Agency for Gender Equality, Edi Gusia, focused on public policies and current challenges for women entrepreneurs. The panelists discussed institutional measures aimed at women’s economic empowerment, supporting female entrepreneurship and increasing women’s participation in the labour market.
Four discussion panels were held as part of the conference, addressing the challenges and opportunities for women in the economy. The first panel, with the participation of Deputy Minister Jeton Mehmeti, Minister Armend Muja, Minister Andin Hoti and Director of the Agency for Gender Equality, Edi Gusia, focused on public policies and current challenges for women entrepreneurs. The panelists discussed institutional measures aimed at women’s economic empowerment, supporting female entrepreneurship and increasing women’s participation in the labour market.accessing finance, ownership and inheritance. The debate highlighted the need for more financial products dedicated to women, raising awareness of property rights and strengthening the role of women in decision-making.
The conference continued with a panel on success stories and women’s empowerment in entrepreneurship, where successful entrepreneurs shared their experiences and challenges in building businesses. Meanwhile, the final panel addressed barriers, discrimination and the gender gap in the labour market, discussing the need for more effective policies that promote the inclusion and advancement of women in the economy.
“She Rises 2026” aims to serve as a platform for dialogue, cooperation and concrete action in support of women in business and entrepreneurship. The organizers emphasized that the economic empowerment of women remains one of the main prerequisites for the sustainable economic and social development of Kosovo.
At the conclusion of the conference, it was reiterated that the progress achieved is important, but that there is still work to be done in terms of guaranteeing equal opportunities, increasing access to finance and creating more favourable conditions for women who want to build and develop their own businesses