Despite progress among younger generations, women in Kosovo continue to face obstacles to fully participating in the workforce and in business. The majority of businesses owned by women are concentrated in the services sector, and they were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting opportunities for their growth.
This year USAID-supported activities for Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) focused on women’s critical role in driving private sector growth. The week kicked off with USAID’s Inclusive Economic Engagement Activity hosting an event to award $530,000 in grants to 53 women and minority-owned small and medium enterprises.
Operating in agriculture, printing, commercial cleaning, textile, education, gastronomy,beauty and wellness sectors, the businesses will use the grants to become more competitive and resilient. The event was also an opportunity for 25 of these businesses to promote and sell their products and services. As Kujtesa Ibishi, an online retailer of handmade embroidery and household products from Rahat, pointed out, “these events are very important for our customers to see the products, so they can get accustomed with the quality, design of our products, but also provide an opportunity for us to network with possible retailers. ”
Additionally, USAID’s Inclusive Economic Engagement Activity organized a regional women entrepreneurs business-to-business event to provide a platform for regional businesses to connect, establish partnerships, and explore new markets through arranged matchmaking sessions.The one-day event brought together around 250 women entrepreneurs and business leaders from Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania.
