In his introductory remarks, the Chairperson of the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget pointed out the significance and importance of the regional networking and cooperation, pointing out that the Cetinje Parliamentary Forum was tackling the issues of “Woman in Business” for the second time.

Chairperson of the Gender Equality Committee Ms Nada Drobnjak pointed out that it was necessary to consider the position of women in business in the right manner and the undertake the required measures in order to create the adequate economic prosperity for development of women’s entrepreneurship.

The first session on the topic “Planned and achieved results” was moderated by Chairperson of the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget Mr Aleksandar Damjanović. Within the session, the speakers were Mr Zoran Vukčević, President of the Board of Directors of the Investment and Development Fund of Montenegro; Ms Zdenka Lončar, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Crafts of the Republic of Croatia; Ms Natalia Meylunas, Head of Regional Programme for Western Balkans, EBRD; Dragana Đurica, representative of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC); and Ms Lia Magnaguagno, Manager of Democratization Programme.

Within the said session, the participants in the gathering discussed the situation regarding the achieved results since the holding of the XVI Cetinje Parliamentary Forum, or the opportunities of development of women’s entrepreneurship as well as the limitations thereof.

Moderator on the topic “The role of local self-government in the development of women business” was Chairperson of the Gender Equality Committee Ms Nada Drobnjak. During this session, the speakers were: Ms Željka Vuksanović, President of Municipality of Kolašin; Mr Vladimir Pavićević, Assistant Secretary at the Secretariat for Entrepreneurship Development of the Capital City Podgorica; and Ms Anela Čekić, President of Municipality of Gusinje.

The Forum will continue tomorrow, with a session on the topic “Positive practice and recommendations for development of women’s entrepreneurship”.