Entrepreneurship, digital skills and innovation can lead to Romania’s development

On Thursday, June 22, in Craiova, the regional conference organized by the Dolj branch of the Organization of Women Entrepreneurs from UGIR was held on topics such as non-reimbursable funds, investments, and digital skills with a real impact on the local economy were addressed, with focus on the Oltenia South – West Region.

The event was attended by over 50 representatives of the local business environment, and entrepreneurs active in various economic fields who had the opportunity to learn valuable information and receive specific solutions for accessing European funds to develop the companies they own or start new projects.

Ana Maria Icătoiu, European and governmental funds expert and Vice-President of OFA UGIR, emphasized the importance of accessing these funds and highlighted the fact that Dolj County has substantial sums assigned inclusively through the Just Transition Fund, which implies a 25% co-financing from the beneficiaries, representing the smallest amount requested in grant funding.

“Women must be part of the change we want for Romania, and in order to grow we need to join forces, be together, and get involved in the decision-making process, alongside men. I think that 70% of SMEs in Romania have a turnover of fewer than 1 million Euros, which means that we are at the beginning of the road, and it is important to shake hands and start collaborating”, declared Mirabela Miron, President of OFA UGIR.

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The conference placed a special emphasis on the importance of developing digital skills in the entrepreneurial environment, the implementation and proper use of new technologies being essential for business development. Entrepreneurs from IT, energy, financial consulting, marketing, or creative industries had the opportunity to discuss current trends, available digital solutions and the use of best practices to increase efficiency and competitiveness.

Exhibition of handmade art and promotion of local culture

In addition to the business part, the conference also had a distinctive cultural aspect, with the participants having the opportunity to enjoy the exhibition organized by the Bucharest Handmade Art Academy. This included traditional costumes with heritage value as well as clothing, jewellery and decorations awarded in various competitions. The presented works were hand created by artists and artisans from Romania, women who love the art of handwork.

“The exhibition is intended to promote the Romanian cultural heritage, being a preview of the celebration of the Universal Day of Ia. We also want to emphasize the importance of traditional crafts in the modern context, as well as the evolution of handmade art in Romania during the last century”, said Mioara Iofciulescu, President of the Bucharest Handmade Art Academy and Vice-President of OFA UGIR.

Through the presentations on accessing European funds, the development of digital skills and the exhibition of handmade art, the event managed to highlight the importance of collaboration, the impact of developing new projects and the need to promote local culture in the context of modern business.

The Organization of Women Entrepreneurs in Romania (OFA UGIR) is a patronage founded in February 2020 with the aim of promoting the importance of the role of women in the development of Romanian society, to defend the interests of women entrepreneurs and to support business initiatives that generate innovative products and services.