Women's Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025 Held in Skopje

• Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025 satellite event will be held in Skopje on 13th of November 2025
• Investors, representatives of the private sector, and government officials were present
• Emphasis on supporting women-owned businesses across varied sectors

The satellite event for the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025 was hosted in Skopje on 13th November 2025, where it brought together more than 100 women entrepreneurs, along with investors, representatives from the private sector, and government officials.

This satellite event was oriented towards enhancing women’s businesses in areas such as agriculture, food, tourism, education, technology, beauty, and fashion, in addition to providing women with new opportunities to become entrepreneurs in North Macedonia.

This event was organized by UN Women within the frame of the EU-funded project “EU4 Gender Equality: Women’s Economic Empowerment and Ending Violence against Women,” in collaboration with the civil society organization Abilities and the Association for Business Women.

A total of 12 female entrepreneurs introduced their ventures, which included such fields as natural cosmetics, agricultural business, e-learning platforms, and hi-tech startups. The presentations received feedback from investors.

Some entrepreneurs have shared insights on the issue of entrepreneurship and the challenges of women in the business environment.

It was noted that issues concerning confidence, resilience, and defying the conventional stereotype are integral parts of the issue of entrepreneurship and the challenges of women in business.

Though progress has been achieved, women are underrepresented in the business environment in North Macedonia. According to statistics from the Regional Cooperation Council, women own 29 percent of the businesses that are currently operational, mostly micro, small, and medium businesses.

Delegates from the United Nations Women and the European Union touched on the importance of women’s economic empowerment in achieving sustainable development.

The government representative reemphasized their initiatives in encouraging women to become entrepreneurs by supporting women through labor market policies that would enhance business expansion.