Date: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Over 70 women-led businesses from across Albania joined investors, government institutions, and private sector partners on October 29 at the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025 in Tirana, a platform designed to boost women’s economic participation and accelerate investment in women-led enterprises.
Now in its third consecutive year, the EXPO has become a national hub for women’s entrepreneurship in Albania, connecting local entrepreneurs with new markets and investors, and building partnerships that drive economic growth.
Organized by UN Women in close partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, and supported by the governments of Sweden, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, the event brought together more than 100 participants. It featured a business fair, networking sessions, thematic workshops, and a Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) signing ceremony for companies committing to gender equality in business.
“The economic empowerment of women is one of the most inspiring development stories we are writing together. This progress is not a coincidence; it is the result of consistent policies and strong partnerships, such as with UN Women, that are creating more opportunities for women to grow, innovate, and lead,” said Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of Economy and Innovation.
Women entrepreneurs from diverse sectors, including agri-food, eco-fashion, tourism, and digital services, including 40 per cent from rural and semi-urban areas, attended the EXPO and showcased their products, exchanged ideas, and connected with peers to discuss challenges and opportunities for their business growth.
“This was my first time attending the fair, and I truly enjoyed the experience. Everything was very well organized,” said Luiza Tare, tailor and founder of “Art” Vlora.
Adela Lamçe, 19, is one of the founders of a digital platform “NineHana,” which aims to build a community connecting pregnant women and young mothers with one another and with various experts through support, experience sharing, and professional advice. “We are truly excited for everything that lies ahead. This is only the beginning of a beautiful journey together,” she concluded.
Over the three years, the EXPO initiative has reached more than 200 women entrepreneurs from Albania through business fairs, workshops, and networking activities. Over 130 women have built business-to-business connections as a result of these events. 
Although women currently own or manage more than 30 per cent of all active small enterprises in Albania, according to the National Institute of Statistics, their participation remains concentrated in small-scale companies. The EXPO 2025 offers them a platform to access new markets, partners, and investors.
“Supporting women entrepreneurs means investing in Albania’s future,” said Michele Ribotta, UN Women Representative in Albania.
The event also hosted thematic sessions on digitalization and finance, rural and tourism entrepreneurship, and systemic barriers to women-led business growth. Speakers included representatives from the Bank of Albania, the European Union Delegation to Albania, the Ministry of Tourism and Agriculture, and international development partners.
This satellite event was part of a series of activities within the regional Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025, organized by the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in partnership with the European Union, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Business Angels Network (EBAN) and Women in Tech Global.
 
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