!["She Congress" held](https://smb.gov.az/storage/9680/1.jpg)
Organized in partnership with KOBİA, the "She Congress" found growing interest among women in starting small businesses and self-employment.
The "She (Smart, Happy, Equal) Congress" was held to support women`s personal and professional development, promote gender equality, networking and sharing experience among women. One of the agencies supporting the event held for the fifth time this year under the motto “take an ownership of your own life" is the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBİA).
Speaking at the event attended by officials and women entrepreneurs, Orkhan Mammadov, the Chairman of the Board of KOBİA noted that the proportion of women entrepreneurs in our country and women's interest in starting a small business and self-employment is growing. It was reported that in 2018, the ratio of women among individual entrepreneurs was about 19%, and according to the statistics of April 2023, it exceeded 22%. In addition, there are sufficient number of women among the founders and directors of legal persons and enterprises. Supporting the development of women's entrepreneurship is one of the mandates of KOBİA. Analysis of studies and surveys shows that lack of business skills, access to financial resources, lack of sales opportunities are the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. Women benefit from the support and services of the Agency for training, consulting, grants, engagement in exhibitions, access to large trade networks, internal market research, "Startup" certificate, etc. to start and expand entrepreneurial activities. In the final period of 2023, about 1000 women entrepreneurs and women seeking to start entrepreneurship benefited from the trainings conducted by KOBİA. So far, 9 women entrepreneurs have been given a grant as part of their project, and more than 10 women entrepreneurs have been awarded a "Startup" certificate. To date, about 1,300 business entities have benefited from about 50 exhibitions organized by KOBİA, of which 50% are women. "My School", "Support for the social development of single mothers", "Power of women in business" and other projects are implemented in the partnership of the agency.
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