Women represent a large untapped economic potential and play a double role in economic and social development. By having more women entrepreneurs and innovators, the competitiveness of each region can be increased by 2010. This session will focus on the elements of starting and managing women-owned ventures, including valuation, competitive benchmarking, funding, and exit strategies. It brings perspective to the role of women on competitiveness and reveals success stories of women in government, civil society and private sector.

KEY ISSUES 

1. How can we overcome the social stereotypes regarding women entrepreneurs?

2. How can we enhance the innovative capacity of women SMEs and micro-enterprises?

3. How would we help women SMEs reach international markets for products, innovations and knowledge?

4. How and which women entrepreneurs have overcome obstacles and achieved success?

5. How can women lead depressed regions into stability then competitiveness by 2010? What is working, and why?