Following the newly established associations in Novi Pazar, Zajecar and Subotica, Pcinj district got its own Business Women's Association, which was supported by the U.S. Embassy in Serbia, too.

The newly established Association will include female entrepreneurs from several municipalities in South Serbia, whereas the initiative, in addition to encouraging women to become entrepreneurs, strives towards providing opportunities for self-employment and economic empowerment of women in Pcinj district.  

Apart from the leadership of the Association of Business Women of Serbia, the meeting held at the Winery Aleksic, the owners of which are three Aleksic sisters, was also attended by representatives of the Embassy of the United States, representatives of the local authorities and entrepreneurs from Vranje and the surrounding area.

The President of the Association of Business Women of Serbia, Sanja Popovic Pantic, PhD, presented the project and the activities planned for the coming period.  She also said that the  Association of Business Women of Serbia would, along with the women from Pcinj district, work on a strategic plan for the establishment and registration of the new civil society organization, as well as on enhancing its technical and managerial capacities.

On behalf of the donor of the project, Drew Giblin, the Cultural Attaché of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, addressed the attendees of the event. 

“The U.S. Embassy in Serbia, this time, too, supported with great pleasure the project of the Association of Business Women of Serbia, which is aimed at expanding the network of women's business associations in Serbia. The economic development of all countries is increasingly dependent on women's entrepreneurship not just in the United States, but also in Serbia and in the Balkans. That is why such projects are important for your country, since they encourage entrepreneurs to start their own businesses, and that is a huge potential for your country that should be exploited”, Mr. Giblin said.

The speakers at the event also included Zoran Antic, the Mayor of Vranje, who gave a political and economic framework within which the business of women's entrepreneurship is implemented in Pcinj district.  

Tijana Milovanovic was appointed the President of the Association of Business Women of Pcinj district, while Masha Bubanj was appointed its Vice-President.

Source: South News and Coordination Body