Supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

IN THIS EDITION:
- The International General Fair, Pristina 2015
- The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands
visit in Gjakova
- Kosovo Womens Entrepreneurship Event
- "Days of female entrepreneurship" in Sarajevo,
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- The Steering Committee Meeting
- The visit of the Ambassador of the Royal
Norwegian Embassy
- The Round Table in the Region of Mitrovica
- The completion of the one-month business
training in the region of Peja
- Workshop: the platform of women entrepreneurs in kosovo
- Rotary District 7280 visit Gjakova
- Citizens petition for the visa liberalization
process in Kosovo

"SUPPORTING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

IN AGRICULTURE 2012 - 2015

NEWSLETTER
Volume 10 / April - August / 2015

THE INTERNATIONAL GENERAL FAIR, PRISTINA 2015

The International General Fair, Pristina 2015 took place in the in the village of Shkabaj,
Pristina and was organized by the Economic Chamber of Kosovo and the Ministry of
Trade and Industry. SHE-ERA informed all women beneficiaries in agriculture of the
SWEA 2012-2015 project supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
about the fair, where two booths were secured for those selected to participate. They
had the opportunity to promote and sell food products and hand craft during the fair.

THE AMBASSADOR OF THE KINGDOM OF NETHERLANDS VISIT IN GJAKOVA

Dutch Ambassador to Kosovo Mr. Robert Bosch visited two textile factories (currently
not in production) in Gjakova on April 16, 2015 at the invitation on WBA "SHE-ERA. Mr.
Bosch during his visit met with the factory owners where it was discussed of potential
ways these factories could be activated and ultimately generate around 500 new jobs.
Both parties discussed the barriers and challenges of the industry and exchanged ideas
on possible cooperation and attracting foreign investors.

KOSOVO WOMENS ENTREPRENEURSHIP EVENT

The conference by TEB Bank in cooperation with Womens Business Association SHEERA, Women for Women International and G7 was held in the Swiss Diamond Hotel in
Prishtina. The purpose of the event was to promote and provide institutional support to
women entrepreneurs. Women beneficiaries of the training offered by TEB Bank
received their certificates and had a meeting with potential investor to support their businesses. There were also representatives from the public-private sector and developing
partners to support the initiative to further promote womens position in the business
sector.

"DAYS OF FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP" IN SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

SHE-ERA participated in the three day event (14-16 of May) organized by "ONE" which
included the International fare of female entrepreneurship where women entrepreneurs
introduced their products and the International Conference "Women's Strength" with the
participation of entrepreneurs and organizations from the region and the EU where it
was discussed about the shortcomings of the Labor Act and the Strategy for the development of women entrepreneurship in BiH. The closing of the event was marked with
the award ceremony which recognized and acknowledged successful women in business.

THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

The Steering Committee meeting was held in the office of Womens Business Association SHE-ERA on June 10 with the new representative from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Denmark, Mrs. Marie Pedersen Haug. During the meeting the Executive Director of SHE-ERA, Mrs. Kusari-Purrini presented the Annual Progress Report 2014, the
Work Plan and Activities and the Budget Proposal for 2015.

THE VISIT OF THE AMBASSADOR OF THE ROYAL NORWEGIAN EMBASSY

The Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy to Kosovo Mr. Jan Braathu visited
the textile factory Edmond Textile Production in Gjakova, at the invitation of WBA
"SHE-ERA" On June 4, 2015. During the visit it was discussed of potential ways the
factory could be activated once completed and ultimately generate new jobs. The
factory has an employment capacity from 300-500 workers. Both parties discussed the
barriers and challenges of the industry and exchanged ideas on possible cooperation
and on attracting international donors and investors.

THE ROUND TABLE IN THE REGION OF MITROVICA

Womens Business Association SHE-ERA held a round table in Hotel Palace in Mitrovica with women beneficiaries of the project Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in
Agriculture 2012-1015, a project supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. The purpose of this round table was to discuss the needs and problems which
women farmers from the Mitrovica region face, as well as the opportunities to find an
answer to their requests addressed to the decision-making institutions in the local and
central level, developing partners, financial/banking institutions, civil society and the
business community. The Think Tank group of women beneficiaries from the Albanian,
Serbian and Bosnian community, addressed their needs and problems as women farmers, and discussed the opportunities to resolve these issues.

THE COMPLETION OF THE ONE-MONTH BUSINESS TRAINING IN THE REGION OF PEJA

The one-month business training How to start a successful business within the project
Support to Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture 2012-2015 supported by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and implemented by Womens Business Association
SHE-ERA. The last groups of women beneficiaries were in the village of Treboviq during
April, in Katund i Ri during May and the last group took place during June in the village
of Nabrgjan, region of Peja the last region within the SWEA project. We are currently
preparing the business plans and certificates the women beneficiaries and we will
continue with their distribution in the following months.

WORKSHOP: THE PLATFORM OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN KOSOVO

Womens Business Association SHE-ERA with the support of Gender Task Force held
the workshop with Gender Equality officials from the municipalities of Kosovo to support
the National Platform of Women Entrepreneurs in Kosovo (NPWEK) in accordance
with the Small Business Act of Europe. The main objective of the platform is advancing
women entrepreneurs in Kosovo through public-private partnerships. The current
platform is a common agreement of governmental institutions, the civil society, business
associations and academic institutions as a modern and effective instrument for the
establishment of a basis for developing the public-private dialogue based on the
principles of democracy for partnership, freedom of speech and the will of interested
parties for women economic empowerment. The platform will serve as the basis of the action plan: "Women Entrepreneurs A job creation engine for South East Europe". The workshop the NPWEK was also signed by officials for gender
equality at the municipal level.

ROTARY DISTRICT 7280 VISIT GJAKOVA

Rotary Disctrict 7280 visited SHE-ERAs office while on a visit to Gjakova for the 15th
anniversary of Rotary Club Gjakova. SHE-ERA Founder and Executive Director, Mrs.
Mirlinda Kusari-Purrini, was one of the new members indicted into Rotary Club Gjakova
Cabrati. Honorable guests in the event organized to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of
Rotary Club Gjakova included the Mayor of Gjakova Mrs. Mimoza Kusari-Lila and members of Rotary District 7280 from Pennsylvania, USA.

CITIZENS PETITION FOR THE VISA LIBERALIZATION PROCESS IN KOSOVO

On July 14, 2015 began the campaign to end Kosovos isolation by signing the petition
to foster the visa liberalization process. The campaign lasted for three weeks and
Womens Business Association SHE-ERA was selected as a partner organization for the
region of Gjakova. The locations of two stand point have been shared in the social
media with the purpose of informing a wide range of citizens.

THE LINK FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN AGRICULTURE

SHE-ERA has converted its internet web page into an effective tool through which it will enable its members to promote their
work and to set up collaborations with different local and international actors, the business community, development partners
and networking among the SHE-ERA members and women entrepreneurs from other countries.
In the web page has been created the database of SHE-ERA partners (http://www.she-era.org/antaret.php) and for Women
Entrepreneurs in Agriculture (http://www.sheera.org/mod.php?mid=31), where are included the data of women farmers
which are updated monthly. Through this link, women in agriculture will greatly benefit toward the project realization process,
and their entrepreneurial capacities as women entrepreneurs will be emphasized through access with cooperation opportunities with local programs and international agencies focused on women economic empowerment.

SHE-ERA STAFF:

SHE-ERA BOARD MEMBERS:

1. Mirlinda Kusari Purrini Executive Director

2. Ardiana Qela Project manager
3. Ymrane Nura - Finance adiministrator
4. Edita Axhemi Training Co-ordinator
5. Marigona Stavileci Training Assistant
6. Afrdita Zherka Project Assistant
7. Ermira Kusari Project Assistant
8. Kosovare Sahatqija IT Assistant
9. Dafina Zhaveli Project Assistant
10. Bujar Haxhibeqiri Driver & Logistics

1. Xheraldina Vula Board Chair

2. Prof. Dr. Justina Shiroka Pula
3. Dr. Lulzim ela
4. Luljeta Vuniqi
5. Burbuqe Berisha

HONORARY MEMBER:
Naxhije Buqinca

SENIOR ADVISER FOR ECONOMIC AND GENDER ISSUES:

Glynis Long
Jocelyne Talbot

WOMENS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION SHE-ERA

Str.Ismail Qemali no.9 (arshia e Jupave)
Tel: +381 (0) 390 323 194
Fax: +381 (0) 390 323 194
Web: she-era.org
Email: wsheera@gmail.com
Fcb: www.facebook.com/WBA.SHEERA
www.facebook.com/WED.KOSOVO
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