Women entrepreneurs will be granted financial aid in the form of loans to the tune of $3,016-$60,332 (100 million-2 billion rials) as startup for their business, said Soheila Jelodarzadeh, deputy industries minister for women’s affairs and head of the Union of Working Women.
The 2nd International Exhibition and Conference on Role of Women in Sustainable Development will take place in Tehran, September 15-18, she told a press conference, Mehr News Agency reported.
Loans will be provided by the Omid Entrepreneurship Fund and the amount will vary according to the nature of the project. Women can present their business plans at the exhibition that will be held on the sidelines of the conference.
The conference seeks to introduce and present capacities of women entrepreneurs in sustainable development, introduce products and achievements of women entrepreneurs and create a platform to present their capabilities, share successful global experiences, create suitable environment for development of economic cooperation at national, regional and international levels and encourage public endorsement and appreciation of entrepreneurship and green businesses.
‘Entrepreneurship Equals Employment’ is the slogan of the conference that will “showcase the outcome of one year of hard work since the previous conference, to support women on the path to sustainable development,” said Jelodarzadeh.
Representatives from the interior, foreign, defense, and intelligence ministries, as well as the private sector, NGOs, and universities will participate.
Progress
Women’s progress in 28 economic, cultural, social, and charitable activities will be presented and seven enterprising projects will be commended. The most successful entrepreneur will be introduced and awarded the ‘Best Entrepreneur Woman of the Year’ title for the first time.
The event is part of efforts made by the government to help fill the “entrepreneurship gender gap” in the country. Businesses and entrepreneurs from across the world are invited to introduce international economic opportunities for women.
Scientific workshops on starting small and medium-sized businesses and issuing trade licenses are among amenities provided for the participants.
Jelodarzadeh said problems challenging women entrepreneurs were surveyed and addressed in the past year. “Bureaucratic constraints and other barriers were identified and reported to the Chamber of Commerce for revision.”
Omid Entrepreneurship Fund (a government organization formerly known as Mehr Imam Reza Central Fund that is active in micro financing), Bank of Industry and Mines, and Keshavarzi Bank (also known as Agribank) will sponsor the exhibition where each square meter of pavilion will cost only $9 (300,000 rials).
