Women Entrepreneurship Week in Yerevan was held for the first time in Armenia

From 8 to 11 June, 2015 for the first time the Women Entrepreneurship Week in Yerevan was held. Women Entrepreneurship Week in Yerevan was organized by Armenian Young Women’s Association (AYWA) and Women Entrepreneurs Network in Armenia (WENA) under the umbrella of World Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FCEM.org). Armenian Young Women's Association and Women Entrepreneurs Network in Armenia is a full member of World Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FCEM).
Among the different events organized within the Women Entrepreneurship Week in Yerevan, the International Conference on Women Entrepreneurship “Vision of New Developments” was held in Yerevan, Armenia.
The Women Entrepreneurship Week in Yerevan aimed at creating links and strengthening cooperation between women entrepreneurs and business owners in Armenia and abroad, facilitating the development of women’s entrepreneurship, improving the business environment for small and medium entrepreneurs and promoting the establishment of business investments and joint initiatives.
Deputies of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, members of RA Government, representatives from different countries (France, Monaco, Belgium, Iran, Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, USA, UAE, Lithuania), international organizations such as European Union, International Monetary Fund, UNIDO, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Asian Development Bank (ADB), GIZ, IFC World Bank Group, representatives of state and non-governmental organizations, successful and start-up women entrepreneurs from Armenia and abroad were attended the conference.
President of Armenian Young Women’s Association & Women Entrepreneurs Network in Armenia, Member of Public Council of the Republic of Armenia, Conference organizational committee chair Lilit Asatryan made the opening speech.
Welcoming speeches were made by Mr.Vache Gabrielyan, Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Ms.Hermine Naghdalyan, Vice speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Armenia, Mr.Richard M.Mills, Jr., H.E. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Mr.Hoa-Binh Adjemian, EU, Head of Cooperation section, Ms. Marie Christine Oghli, FCEM Vice president on behalf of FCEM World president Laura Frati Gucci, Mr. Mark Davis, Head of Yerevan Resident Office, EBRD, Mr. David Dole, Resident Representative of Asian Development Bank in Armenia, Mrs.Anahit Simonyan, Head of UNIDO Operations in Armenia, Ms. Anne Dorit Kempa, GIZ Country Director, Mr. Gegham Petrosyan, Director of SME DNC of the Republic of Armenia, Ms. Gayane Mkrtchyan, IFC Operations Officer, Mrs. Nestan Kirtadze, President of International Development and Leadership Network and International Successful Women’s Club.
The following events were also organized during the Women Entrepreneurship Week in Yerevan:

• International Conference on Women Entrepreneurship “Vision of New Developments” (June 8-9, 2015, Yerevan, Komitas Institute-Museum). Within the conference B2B meetings was held, issues on women entrepreneurship development opportunities, the role of networks, crowdfunding, the attractiveness of women entrepreneurship were discussed.

• Artworks Exhibition of Ms. Lilit Danielyan – Board Member of Armenian Young Women’s Association and Women Entrepreneurs Network of Armenia (June 8-11, 2015, Yerevan, KARLLEVONI Gallery).

• Study tours and visits to Armenian producers (June 10, 2015, tours to “SAM-HAR” LLC, "Hyelandz Eco Village Resort", “Haleb” Eastern sweets factory, “Arcolad” CJSC, “Megerian Carpets Armenia”, “Golden Grape ArmAs”),

• EXPO of women producers and companies with participation of over 50 women entrepreneurs (June 10, 2015, Yerevan, Government House 1).

• Cultural program (visits to Mother See of Holy Etchmiatzin, Geghard monastery, “Ararat” Yerevan Brandy Company, Matenadaran)

• Visits to Yerevan State University and the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia

• “Female Entrepreneurship Ambassador Award-2015”.

“Female Entrepreneurship Ambassador” Award is one of the promoting events for women entrepreneurs. Since 2011, this award has been organized by AYWA and WENA. This year “Female Entrepreneurship Ambassador Award-2015” awarded to

• Ms. Veronika Zonabend - IDeA and RVVZ foundations

• Ms. Viktoria Aslanyan - Golden Grape ArmAs organization

• Ms. Caroline Zakaryan - “HyeLandz Eco Village Resort”

• Ms. Alin Masrlyan - “Haleb” eastern sweets factory

• Ms. Lilit Tumanyan- Clinics for Aesthetic Modern Cosmetology “Avanta”

• Ms. Ani Harutyunyan -“Crumbs” the bread factory

• Ms. Maya Poghosyan- “El Style” magazine

• Ms. Narine Topolyan - “Nane” dance studio

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Within Women Entrepreneurship Week in Yerevan, Armenian Young Women’s Association (AYWA), Women Entrepreneurs Network in Armenia (WENA) signed in 4 Memorandums of Understanding with international organizations:

• “Tramont International Maroc” SARL about the cooperation in the sphere of alternative energy and effective ecological solutions in Armenia and the region.

• International Successful Women’s Club. Now AYWA is a member of this club.

• EU Georgian International Movement

• International EU-Georgian Trade, Industry and Investment Chamber.

One Memorandum of Understanding with local “Hyper Space” LLC, due to which women entrepreneurs will have support in creating their own websites.
As a result of the International Conference, the Resolution was submitted to women entrepreneurship promotion in local and international levels.