The Association of Business Women in Serbia has been strengthened since the beginning of March by a new member of staff, Olivera Pantović, who will support us in implementing ongoing activities.

Olivera has been employed until now at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Bonn, where she was responsible for scholarship programs as well as for subject-related and regional programs. She coordinated the Special Program for Serbia at the Section for Southeastern Europe and Stability Pact at the DAAD. From July 2012 until February 2013 she worked at the Ethno Network in Belgrade as a business development manager.

A special training entitled “The 7 Women´s Empowerment Principles” which has been suggested by UN Women and UN Global Compact took place in Belgrade. These principles should be implemented in SMEs all over Serbia.

The education has been organized in frame of the project “Increasing capacity of SMEs to implement the Women’s Empowerment Principles in their companies” which is realized by the Association of Business Women in Serbia and funded by the Office of UN Women in Serbia, a UN entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. More information about this project you can find under the heading Projects on the website of the Association of Business Women in Serbia.

The management of ABW will continue to work in the following year on the project “KnowHow” together with the mentor on the financing and developing models of the Association as an umbrella organization of associations of business women in Serbia.

By implementing a new financing model the ABW will increase the percentage in membership contributions as well as the number of members. The efforts of the Association as an umbrella organization to strengthen its associations on the local level are focused on supporting the entrepreneurship of women in Serbia, in national as well as in local policies concerning economic development.

The work experience in the last 18 months with the mentor Peter O’ Neill as well as the visit of the consultant Susan Sarfati on May, 2012 in Belgrade made a great contribution to the work progress of the Association, for example, by establishing an advocacy board, increasing the number of members of the board, enlargement of the services directed at the members etc.

At the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Zaječar a ceremonial conference took place due to the registration of the Association of Business Women in Timočka krajina which has been established in frame of the project “Promoting Women’s Entrepreneurship in Northern and Eastern Serbia while Advocating Nationally“. This project is being carried out by the Association of Business Women in Serbia as a leading organization, with the support of the Section for the local economic development of the municipality of Zaječar and the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zaječar. The realization of the project is funded by the United States Embassy Belgrade.

On behalf of the project donor Viktoria Nibarger, Economic officer at the United States Embassy Belgrade, emphasized on this occasion the importance of the work of the Association of Business Women in Serbia by supporting the women entrepreneurship which could serve as a catalyzer for the economic development of Serbia.

„The U.S. Departement of State finances two projects with the aim to help expand the associations all over Serbia, as well as advocacy which can enhance the conditions for women´s entrepreneurship in Serbia. The ABW in Serbia has recently established also an Association of Business Women in Novi Pazar and another which is located in Subotica will be opened on 22 March. Mrs. Nibarger mentioned: “The United States Embassy is satisfied with the continuous success of the Association by supporting business women all over Serbia“.

In frame of its regular activities the Board of the Association organized a meeting to present among other topics the results of the Association in the last year and the agenda of activities in 2013.

It was decided to enlarge the board with two new members – Radojka Nikolić, editor-in-chief of the magazines “Ekonometar” and “Biznis”, and Vesna Pucar Grubor, venture partner and director of “Vivex Trading”. Because of leaving the country Anastasia Jelašić was replaced at the board by Gordana Đurđević, who was elected on this occasion as president of the new established Board of Public Advocacy.

Furthermore the Board decided to increase the membership fees to 10 percent. This decision enters into force as from 1 March 2013.