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The first FEM-seminar in Lithuania

The international FEM-seminar ( INTERREG III B project) and networking event was held in Panevezys Lithuania, on September 22nd through the 24th 2005. This event was arranged for the participants of the FEM project as well at women entrepreneurs from the Baltic Sea Region.  At this networking event 161 women from 9 countries participated.

What is FEM?

FEM is a Baltic Sea Region INTERREG III B project, partly financed by the EU Regional Development Fund.

The project is designed to help women entrepreneurs in the Baltic Sea region find business contacts and develop their businesses. The project supports international cooperation in order to ensure sustainable development throughout the entire EU.

There are 7 countries participating in the project. The Finnish Ministry of Interior is the leading partner of this project, headed by Ms. Laura Perheentupa.

FEM began in August 2004 and will last for three years. The aim of FEM is to strengthen the structures that support women’s entrepreneurship. This is done through cooperation. Participating countries exchange knowledge, each sharing their successes and failures, in the hopes that when they return to their respective countries they will be able to implement successful practices.

Who Participates in FEM?

There are currently 7 participating countries in FEM. In 2003, during the development stage of FEM, there were many different women‘s organizations involved. The ten countries involved at that time included: Russia- Kaliningrad district, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Finland, and Norway.

During the development process Germany withdrew from the project due to the various problems they were facing. Later in development Russia and Belarus also withdrew for various reasons.

This year during the seminar in Panevezys women entrepreneurs from the seven participating countries came together to discuss the issues related to the project.

There was also a steering group meeting during this time, during which the course of the project was discussed. Future plans and strategies were also decided upon at this event.

Experience of Scandinavian women

During the days of September 27th-28th, 2004 in Kajaani, Finland there was an introductory FEM project conference where all the project partners from the 7 countries participated.

There also were three representative women organizations from Lithuania.

The main issues discussed during the conference were the ones that pertained to the problems women entrepreneurs face while developing businesses in the Baltic Sea region.

Major problems included: Traditional attitude of society toward women owned and operated businesses, inadequacy of governmental institutions when it comes to solving problems of women entrepreneurs, and the social status of women including the limitations that are caused by family, child raising, etc.

One of the main goals of the project is to create and develop an international network of women entrepreneurs that not only cooperates with one another, but is also unified. There is also the goal of transferring the experience of Scandinavian countries to the other countries in the Baltic Sea region. These are seen as some of the best ways to solve the above mentioned problems.

Goal – Promotion of women entrepreneurship

In the Baltic Sea region, especially in the eastern part, the female unemployment rate is relatively higher compared to men. One of the solutions to this problem is for women to create their own businesses. However, the development of businesses is restricted by various economical, cultural and psychological factors.

There is currently a shortage of organizations that encourage women entrepreneurship.

This is one of the problems the FEM project is trying to fix. They want to create these types of organizations in the Baltic Sea region.

In order to do this they will partially rely on the experience of Scandinavian countries. There will also be an international network of mentors made up of experienced entrepreneurs. The possibilities for micro-financing will be also be researched, in the hope that functioning micro-finance groups will eventually be created. The establishment of more than 50 women information and resource centers is also in the works. These centers would be able to coordinate micro-finance groups that would ensure startup businesses receive assistance from women business mentors.  This plan also includes having trained personnel in the resources centers, insuring that qualified people are evaluating business ideas. The personnel would also be able to consult the women who were starting a business, giving them advice on where to find sources of capital and support.

There are three partners from Lithuania participating in the INTERREG III B project: Lithuanian Women Farmers’ Association, Kaunas Women’s Employment, Information Centre and Public Organization, and “Women and Business in Lithuania“

All the projects are divided into five work packages, when they are implemented the planned results will be reached.

The Five Work Packages of the FEM Project

Work package 1 (leader Ms. Lisbeth Holmquist-Arbrandt, Sweden)

The focus of this package is on the creation of women information and resource centers, including the acquisition of the necessary equipment. This package is also concerned with establishing cooperation and a network between the various women centers established in different countries.

There are currently plans to establish two new women information centers in Lithuania as well as upgrade four old ones.

Work package 2 (leader Ms. Tuuli Paaksi, Estonia and Ms. Tarja Jutila, Finland) The focus of this package is on the intensive training of the employees of the women information and resource centers. Special attention will be given to the training of the center leaders in the areas of international cooperation, alternative ways of business financing, and women entrepreneurship. 

Work package 3 (leader Ms. Leena Heiskala, Finland)

This package focuses on the development of the women business mentor network. Successful and experienced entrepreneurs from Lithuania will be involved in this network. They will first be taught the specifics of mentor work and after the training they will work with women who are just about to start their business. Such business mentor mechanisms are very successful and well developed in Scandinavia.

In Lithuania there are plans to create a network of 8-12 experienced business women, who would work with 16-20 starting entrepreneurs.

Work package 4 (leader Ms. Elin Sabbasen, Norway)

Focusing on the creation of micro-financing opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the Baltic States is the main goal of this package. Here all the successful practices of the Scandinavian countries will be implemented and the possible micro- financing sources will be analyzed (Credit unions, banks, public financing instruments, municipality funds).  In Lithuania there will be 3-5 groups of the beginning entrepreneurs (3-5 women in one group), they will be specially trained in the basics of starting a business. They will also receive a mentor and prepare a business plan. Later on these factors will be important in ensuring the successful development of these businesses.

Work package 5 (leader Ms. Mirja Erlund, Finland and Ms. Malgorzata Guzowska, Poland)

This package focuses on the internationalization of women entrepreneurs. An international web site with all the languages of the participating countries will be created. Information about business opportunities in different countries will be provided on this site. This website will also create the opportunity to share experiences and suggestions between women from different countries. Also in the plans are the organization of women business missions and joint events in partner countries.

  List of participants

  Picture gallery

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