Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025 in Skopje encourages women to participate equally in the economy and lead a sustainable future

The Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025 satellite event in Skopje gathered more than 100 women entrepreneurs, alongside investors, private sector leaders, and government representatives, on 13 November 2025. The event aimed to boost women-led businesses across sectors, including agriculture, food production, tourism, education, technology, beauty, and fashion, while opening new opportunities for aspiring women entrepreneurs across North Macedonia.

Organized by UN Women under the regional programme “EU4 Gender Equality: Women’s Economic Empowerment and Ending Violence against Women,” funded by the European Union, the event was held in partnership with “Abilitist,” a civil society organization promoting women's entrepreneurship in North Macedonia, and the Association of Business Women.

12 women entrepreneurs from Skopje and other cities across the country presented their businesses, ranging from eco-friendly cosmetics and agri-businesses to digital education platforms and tech start-ups. Each received constructive feedback from investors.

Sanja Bachevski, founder of “Sanja's Microgreens,” which specializes in the production of microgreens, said that whenever a woman believes in her idea, she breaks stereotypes and shows that limits exist only in the mind. “One courageous decision can pave the way for many other women after her. When a woman steps forward with vision and passion, she becomes an example that it is possible to create a future on your own terms.”

Another entrepreneur, Natali Ristovska, founder of “Yova Maison,” a brand dedicated to ethical and sustainable purse production, noted that gender stereotypes in society remain at the core of women’s underrepresentation in business. She shared that a prejudice she often hears regarding her work is,“Don't get carried away, you're from a small country.” “The real limitations come not from where we come from, but from the way we think. The opportunities are not small; only our view of them can be. They are open to anyone who has the vision and the courage to follow them,” she said.

Despite steady progress, women in North Macedonia remain underrepresented in the entrepreneurial landscape. According to the data from the Regional Cooperation Council, women own around 29 per cent of active enterprises, with the majority leading micro and small businesses.

Vesna Ivanovikj-Castarede, Head of Office of UN Women North Macedonia, emphasized the role of women’s economic empowerment in driving sustainable development. “I see the future as an economy where women-led businesses are the norm, not the exception. We must continue to strengthen the support network – connecting institutions, the private sector, and investors with women entrepreneurs,” she said.

Her message was echoed by Ben Nupnau, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of the Political and Information Section at the Delegation of the European Union to North Macedonia, who reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to gender equality and inclusive growth.

“Promoting women's entrepreneurship is at the heart of the European Union's vision for inclusive and sustainable development. Evidence across Europe and the Western Balkans shows that when women participate equally in the economy, societies grow faster, innovation accelerates, and communities become more resilient,” he noted.

The event also featured five-minute pitches from each entrepreneur to a panel of investors and business leaders, followed by networking sessions that sparked potential collaborations and mentorship opportunities.

Marjan Risteski, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade, underlined the government’s support for women’s economic participation. “The Ministry, together with the Government, promotes and supports women’s entrepreneurship through a range of labour market measures designed to help women establish, running, and grow their businesses, enabling them to be more active in the labour market,” he said.

During the panel discussion on “Women in Business in North Macedonia – Navigating Challenges, Seizing Opportunities,” Elizabeta Jovanovska, Executive Director of Abilitist, encouraged women entrepreneurs to embrace resilience as part of their journey. “Success is not linear. There are ups and downs. Do not be afraid to fall. If you stay persistent and believe in what you do, you will rise stronger than before,” stated Jovanovska.

The importance of partnerships and networks that create an enabling environment for women’s businesses was also emphasized. Valentina Disoska, President of the Association of Business Women, called for continuous cooperation. “Only through joint efforts of all stakeholders and by encouraging women entrepreneurs to take a more active role can we unlock the full potential for economic empowerment – especially for women themselves,” she said.

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.