The 1st Women Entrepreneurs Week kicked off in Armenia on the initiative of the Armenian Young Women’s Association (AYWA).

To establish ties between Armenian and foreign women entrepreneurs, the International Conference of Women Entrepreneurs opened in Yerevan today with the participation of several tens of businesswomen and representatives of international organizations.

Opening the conference Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for International Economic Integration and Reforms of Armenia Vache Gabrielyan said that the Armenian government attaches great importance to the women’s role in the economic development of the country and encourages their activities.

“All businesswomen as well as women wishing to do business can have the support of the state not only in theory, but also in practice,” he said.

In his turn, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills stated that with their achievements Armenian women entrepreneurs can be a model for the rest, encouraging them to become the bearers of changes in Armenia and abroad.

“As business owners and Armenian citizens, it is your duty to voice the economic policy issues, which hinder the economic growth,” said U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills.

Head of Operations Section at the EU Delegation to Armenia Hoa-Binh Adjemian said that at the recent Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga the EU reiterated its commitment to continue cooperating with Armenia in sectors of mutual interest.

He noted that being the largest donor on assistance indicators provided for the development of Armenia, EU provides Armenian citizens an average of around AMD 1 million grant per week, particularly to support women entrepreneurship.

“As of today, EU supports 21 HEIs in Armenia with the goal to increase the involvement of women in various sectors. The EU assists agriculture in various regions in Armenia by displaying specific approach to women entrepreneurship, since many men have left to work abroad,” said Hoa-Binh Adjemian.

AYWA President Lilit Asatryan said that a resolution aimed at the Armenian government to encourage women entrepreneurship will be adopted at the end of the conference.

Besides, works aimed at establishing a regional platform for women entrepreneurship will be carried out with relevant organizations in Armenia, Iran, Turkey and Georgia once the conference concludes.