Ljubljana, 20 October - Female entrepreneurship is increasingly important in Slovenia and early entrepreneurial activity has been increasing among women for the forth consecutive year, show data by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. Ten years ago Slovenia was among the worst in this respect, while now it is above EU average, heard a meeting of female entrepreneurs.

Addressing the meeting of female entrepreneurs of three generations from the ABC of Entrepreneurship programme, which the SPIRIT agency and the Economy Ministry are hosting in Ljubljana, acting SPIRIT head Rok Capl said last year almost eight out of ten entrepreneurs had been emerging female entrepreneurs.

"This is excellent information. The role of female entrepreneurship is extremely important in business, as it has a huge potential for economic growth and new jobs," he said.

Capl congratulated female entrepreneurs on their courage and he extended particular congratulations to those who have successfully completed SPIRIT's training programme ABC of Entrepreneurship this year and have applied for financial incentives for the best business model.

A total of 112 business models by up-and-coming female entrepreneurs were picked by a jury this year and each of them received a EUR 3,000 reward.

This was the fourth annual SPIRIT's competition.

Capl stressed that SPIRIT and the Economy Ministry had been supporting women in business for years, both financially and through training programmes.

The first online training programme ABC of Entrepreneurship for women starting a business was launched in 2019. Since then, more than 1,000 women have completed it.

According to Capl, SPIRIT and the ministry will continue to host and supports events encouraging networking of female entrepreneurs.

Female entrepreneurs are presenting themselves with dozens of stalls at Ljubljana's main fairgrounds today.