Presented ‘Women’s Perspective’, a project involving 50 entrepreneurs

The ‘Women’s Perspective’ project for entrepreneurs, initiated and implemented by the entrepreneurship development association Perspektiva from Lipik, and funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation with $250,000, was presented on Friday in Zagreb.

The program will last throughout 2018 and 2019, focusing on educating 50 entrepreneurs from the seven least developed Croatian counties: Virovitica-Podravina, Brod-Posavina, Vukovar-Srijem, Bjelovar-Bilogora, Požega-Slavonia, Sisak-Moslavina, and Osijek-Baranja counties. The project was presented by Tomislav Lneniček, president of the Perspektiva association, mr. sc. Dragica Karajić, project manager, and Ana Kljaić, public relations director of Coca Cola Adria.

– The ‘Women’s Perspective’ project arose as a result of years of experience and work in the entrepreneurship development sector and the recognized needs of people living and working in underdeveloped areas.

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The aim is to encourage women who have a registered economic entity and are engaged in agricultural production, agritourism, and the production of handicrafts and souvenirs to further develop their businesses by learning about new positive examples from developed parts of Croatia, acquiring new knowledge and social and entrepreneurial skills, business mentoring, and ensuring a new distribution channel for online sales – says Karajić.

At the project presentation in Zagreb on May 4, the application for entrepreneurs will also begin, lasting until June 20, along with a campaign through local media and support from partner local and regional support institutions.

– The ultimate outcome of the project is that 50 entrepreneurs from seven underdeveloped Croatian counties will be educated through thematic workshops on key social and entrepreneurial skills with aspects of business skills training. This is particularly important for the subsequent professional mentoring that project beneficiaries will have during the next six months of business – emphasizes Karajić.

The project was approved in the competition of The Coca Cola Foundation and received $250,000, and all project activities are free for the entrepreneurs who will participate in the training. Additionally, all local and partner institutions have no financial obligations, emphasizes Karajić.

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The project presentation was also attended by Božica Marković, director of the Agriculture Sector of HGK, and Sanja Martinovsky from the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts.

As part of the program, a panel discussion of Istrian entrepreneurs ‘Mistresses of Their Businesses’ was held, where members of Business and Professional Women Pula (BPW Pula) dr. sc. Alida Perkov, president of the association, Dragica Lukin, coordinator of the Istrian Sweet Basket, Darinka Buršić, coordinator of the Istrian Salty Basket, Loredana Krbavčić, coordinator of the Istrian Fragrant Basket, and Darija Božac Marjanović, coordinator of the Istrian Consulting Basket presented their products and business experiences.