A few months ago, the Coalition of Women’s Business Associations, Romania, submitted a protest to the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, in reference to a number of unfriendly fiscal and financial measures that the government has adopted, in order to increase its budget.

Under the slogan “We Care”, the Coalition suggested a set of ten alternative measures that should help support the business environment, especially because some fiscal measures that were adopted by the Government in 2009 have determined the closure of around 150,000 SMEs. CAFA proposed that, instead of those measures, which are simply aimed at raising more money now, the government should introduce measures that stimulate work and the creation of more jobs, and allow companies to become stable and even to grow. Such measures are: the elimination of the mandatory income tax income introduced in 2009; the elimination of the 5% and 10% late penalties that only private companies must pay (as opposed to state-owned companies, which are exempted from paying penalties); increasing the transparency of the laws on public acquisitions; simplifying the procedures for granting European funds to SMEs; introducing VAT deduction procedures for natural persons; eliminating the tax on reinvested profit, etc.

Continue reading ‘The Coalition of Women’s Business Associations Sets a Good Example for Romanian Civil Society’ »

In this video, the Executive Director of the Palestinian Business Women Forum (BWF), Doa Wadi, highlights the journey BWF has taken, as well as challenges and lessons learned along the way as BWF positions itself as the voice of women entrepreneurs throughout the West Bank. Using the results of a survey of Palestinian businesswomen administered last Fall, with CIPE’s support the (BWF) is conducting regular public-private dialogues and advocating for issues that matter most for women entrepreneurs in the West Bank.

To share an item with the Community of Women Entrepreneurs, send it to partners@cipe.org

In the budget of 2009- 2010, the government has allocated 1000 crore taka (69.70 = 1$) for the SME sector. In fact it was the same also in the last budget but there was nothing for women SMEs. We expressed our demands in the Women’s National Business Agenda launch and also in our prebudget seminar, and in this budget 15% from this 1000 crore for women SMEs has been allocated.

This is another success of BWCCI.

Selima Ahmad
President, Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Participants in the 4th Global Women Entrepreneurs Trade Fair and Investment Forum held in Accra, Ghana, from July 23 to 31, 2009, made recommendations for improving trade in the ECOWAS region. They identified goals for cross-border trade, capacity building, health care, food processing and packaging, and scientific information and technology. To achieve these goals, they called for women entrepreneurs in the region to come together to create a strategic plan, and they made recommendations to African governments and the international community.

Read the Recommendations from the 4th Global Women Entrepreneurs Trade Fair and Investment Forum

Lucia Quachey
President, Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs

We submitted the Women’s National Business Agenda draft to Hon’bl President of the Government of Bangladesh. It was the first time our news was in the national television headlines. The President was happy to see the WNBA draft and he mentioned that it will hep the Govt. to promote women’s entrepreneurship as it has wide information and specific recommendations.

Read the story in the Daily Star: “President Suggests Women’s Chamber in Every District” (May 25, 2009)

Selima Ahmad
President, BWCCI

The Honorable Finance Minister, the Honorable Home Minister and the Honorable Governor of Bangladesh Bank promised immediate action and cooperation with the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) in implementing the policy changes outlined in its Women’s National Business Agenda. An unprecedented effort in Bangladesh, the agenda will serve as a powerful advocacy tool for the private sector and shows that the women’s business community is determined to play a positive role in Bangladesh’s democratic and economic development.

Read the press release.

Top Ten Priorities of the Women’s National Business Agenda

Best,
Selima Ahmad
President, BWCCI

I am very happy to inform you that the Women’s National Business Agenda was launched by the finance minister and home minister and Bangladesh Bank governor as well. A special supplementary was published in the two national dailies. 700 participants–mostly women entrepreneurs from all over Bangladesh and even from remote Sidr-affected areas–participated in the event. All our members were the pillar for the success of this project and BWCCI is happy that we could bring all issues from the grassroots. I learned TV channels and print media already covered our event. I am attaching the online news.

Newspaper supplement about the Women’s National Business Agenda

“PROGRESSIVE WOMEN, PROSPEROUS BANGLADESH”

Best, Selima

The theme of the celebration was “Women Arise: Use Entrepreneurship as a Tool for Economic Empowerment.” We decided on this theme because when a woman has a regular source of income, she becomes very confident and takes her own destiny into her own hands and her self esteem increases, this is empowerment!

Women entrepreneurs and women in business used the occasion to raise awareness to the need for promoting “Entrepreneurship” as a Tool for attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The walk was to advocate for a week every year to be observed as “WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS WEEK” to be celebrated every first week in June, beginning June 3RD – 9TH, 2009; All African women entrepreneurs and women in business to join us to institutionalize this event. We also created awareness for local participation in the Fourth Global Women Entrepreneurs Trade Fair and Investment Forum scheduled for JULY 23 – AUGUST 2, 2009.

Read more about the celebration.

Lucia Quachey
President GAWE

The Bangladesh Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) is going to launch the first Women’s National Business Agenda (WNBA) on 26th February.  Chief Guest: Finance Minister. Special guest: Home Minister (first woman to be home minister in the subcontinent, maybe in Asia too). Distinguished guest: President FBCCI (apex Trade Body).

180 organisations who are coalition members and 500 women entrepreneurs will participate. BWCCI also made a theme song for WNBA and will have a special supplement in daily newspaper.
Best, Selima

For details contact BWCCI:  +880-2-9861526

Jehan Ara has written a fascinating, play-by-play account of an IT policy consultation in Pakistan–complete with debates over seating arrangements and agendas. Read it on Jehan’s site.