Women entrepreneurs launch project in Brussels

A delegation of 10 female entrepreneurs was in Brussels recently to launch the AMIE (Ambassadors in Malta for Increasing Women Entrepreneurs) project, led by Maryrose Francica.

The project is a collaboration between the Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs, Reach Beyond Foundation, the Malta Business Bureau, the National Council for Women and the Malta Association of Women in Business. Together they successfully proposed AMIE for the European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme.

The delegation attended an induction event addressed by Sabine Laruelle, Belgian Minister for SMEs, Self-employed, Agriculture and Scientific Policy, Antonio Preto, head of the Cabinet of Antonio Tajani, the vice-president of the European Commission, and Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, and Joanna Drake, director for Promotion of SMEs’ competitiveness within DG Enterprise and Industry.

The women shared best practices and experiences with other women entrepreneur ambassadors from various countries. AMIE’s main objective is to promote female entrepreneurship in Malta through the establishment of a network of women ambassadors. Part of the European Network of Women Entrepreneurs, it will campaign among unemployed women, women in active professional life and students to establish their own businesses.

The ambassadors will act as role models to raise women’s ability to create a vision for themselves as entrepreneurs and the required motivation and self-confidence in setting up and creating a successful business.

The ambassadors – Helen Azzopardi, Josette Bartolo, Shirley Cauchi, Jenifer Debono, Theresa Delia, Miriam Duca, Mary Gaerty, Charlotte Gregory, Ruth Vella and Sandra Zammit – were selected on pre-established criteria among which the potential to inspire other women to become entrepreneurs.

maryrose@women.org.mt.