Women entrepreneurs from Armenia and Georgia take one step closer to becoming successful business owners

Date: Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Eliza Kalandia, a farmer from Georgia, offers exhibition visitors a taste of the cheese she produces. Photo: UN Women/Tako Robakidze

30 women entrepreneurs from Armenia joined the “Gateway to Europe: Armenia” event and participated in a workshop, as part of the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025. Photo: Fast Foundation

Around 250 women entrepreneurs from across Georgia and Armenia, including women who are survivors of violence, those living in mountainous regions, and refugees from Ukraine, joined the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025 in September.

While women from Georgia showcased and sold their products on-site, including food, wine and other beverages, gifts, toys, accessories, handicrafts, and beauty and personal care items, creating new sales opportunities and valuable networking connections, women entrepreneurs from Armenia participated in discussions and masterclasses on business, investment, and venture funding.

In Georgia, Anna Khubua, a 25-year-old entrepreneur from Tbilisi and a psychologist by training, attended the EXPO for the first time. She began creating home decorations during the COVID-19 pandemic and now sells her products mainly through social media. This year, she presented her handmade mirrors inscribed with motivational phrases at the fair.

“I wanted to give special value to the decorations I make, so I decided to write phrases on the mirrors that would help women become more self-confident. These events are important because so many women get to know each other; we share experiences and motivate one another.”

— Ana Khubua, Georgian entrepreneur

Ana Khubua, the Georgian entrepreneur, at the exhibition fair with her product stand. Photo: UN Women/Tako Robakidze

Belen Sanz Luque, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, and Kaori Ishikawa, UN Women Country Representative in Georgia, are viewing the products of women entrepreneurs showcased at the exhibition and sale. Photo: UN Women/Tako Robakidze

Kaori Ishikawa, UN Women Country Representative in Georgia and Liaison for the South Caucasus, noted that the annual Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO has become an inspiring tradition across Europe and Central Asia, including in Georgia. “This EXPO is a genuine joint effort - from development partners to private sector leaders - but at its very heart are the women entrepreneurs who trusted us, shared their challenges, and continue to shape this platform with their vision. Women entrepreneurs create jobs, generate income for families and communities, and bring innovation and sustainability to the economy, yet they still face barriers to finance, markets, and networks,” she mentioned.

Initiated by UN Women and supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and the European Union, the event was organized in collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), TBC Bank, Crystal Microbank, MBC Microbank, the Georgian Farmers’ Association, Business and Technology University and Expo Georgia.

“With the support of our donors, we actively work to make it easier for women-led businesses to access both financing and tailored advisory services that help them grow and expand. The women showcased at the EXPO have turned their ideas into successful enterprises through dedication and hard work. Their achievements serve as powerful examples, not only for other women but also for all entrepreneurs and future generations who aspire to build thriving businesses of their own.”

Alkis Vryenios Drakinos, EBRD, Director for the Caucasus

Alkis Vryenios Drakinos, EBRD, Director for the Caucasus

This year, the EXPO in Georgia placed a special focus on green products made by women using recycled, environmentally friendly materials and technologies. The fair also featured a panel discussion, supported by the ADB, on the importance of financial inclusion for women’s economic empowerment and the role of the private sector in supporting women entrepreneurs.

The Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025 was held within the framework of the Women’s Economic Empowerment component of the UN Women project “Good Governance for Gender Equality in Georgia”, funded by the Government of Norway.

Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025 participants attending the “Gateway to Europe: Armenia” event. Photo: Fast Foundation

In Armenia, 30 women entrepreneurs joined the “Gateway to Europe: Armenia” event, thanks to UN Women support, and participated in a workshop as part of the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025. They received practical tips for delivering the perfect pitch and gained renewed confidence, inspiration, and ambition for their entrepreneurial journeys and future investments.

Hasmik Ter-Grigoryan, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of LiveBoard from Armenia. Photo: Fast Foundation

Hasmik Ter-Grigoryan, a participant of EXPO 2024 and Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of LiveBoard - recognized last year as one of the top startups at the European Business Angels Network (EBAN) Annual Congress - shared her journey as an entrepreneur. She spoke about the resilience of women entrepreneurs, the challenges they overcome, the lessons they learn, and the importance of sharing those experiences with other women entrepreneurs.

Launched in 2021, the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO is a unique partnership platform to promote women’s entrepreneurship ecosystem building in the Europe and Central Asia region. EXPO provides an interactive space for women entrepreneurs, investors and private sector representatives for networking and collaboration, peer learning, ideas generation, capacity building and business development. EXPO 2025 is organized by UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Business Angels Network (EBAN) and Women in Tech Global.