Pristina – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present the 2024 Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year at a ceremony to take place this evening in Pristina. The ceremony will be opened by Amer Kapetanovic, RCC Secretary General, Aivo Orav, Head of the EU Office and European Union Special Representative, and Atifete Jahjaga, Founder and Chairwoman of the Board of the Jahjaga Foundation and the Former President. 

After receiving more than 200 nominations from across the Western Balkans, jury members comprising of renowned experts from our region have selected six outstanding women to receive this prestigious title in six categories: Young Woman Entrepreneur, Green Woman Entrepreneur, Artistic Woman Entrepreneur, Tourism Woman Entrepreneur, ICT Woman Entrepreneur, and Social Star Woman Entrepreneur. The names of the Women Entrepreneurs of the Year will be announced at the ceremony tonight.

Launched three years ago as part of the Common Regional Market Action Plan and RCC’s Women Economic Empowerment Agenda, this initiative aims to recognise women who have established and grown businesses while creating sustainable jobs for both women and men in the region. So far, 18 women entrepreneurs have been awarded this prestigious title of Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, with last year's laureates being Irena Chaushevska, Ilda Humic, Marija Ivankovic Jurisic, Nikolina Kovacevic, Rigerta Loku and Hana Qerimi, and this year will be no different.

Women entrepreneurs play an important role in driving stability and growth across the Western Balkans. Their dedication, creativity, and determination fuel economic and social progress. This initiative celebrates the bold and resilient women who have defied stereotypes and brought positive change to their communities.

This year’s jury members were: Johana Bano, Head of Association of Agrotourism of Albania, Muhamed Semic, Director of Deloitte in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mirlinda Kusari Purrini, Executive Director of Businesswomen Association SHE-ERA, Branimir Zugic, Co-founder and Programme Director of the Creative Industries and Media Forum, Zagorka Blazhevska, CEO of Vita Nova, Vesna Popac, Associate of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina, and Evisi Kopliku, Expert on Competitiveness at RCC.

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