Women in business - Transfer of best practice in Europe

Through the network "EtrifftU" (Existenzgründerin trifft Unternehmerin – Woman Start-up Meets Woman Entrepreneur), the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce has been successfully promoting a constructive dialogue between women starting up a business and established women entrepreneurs. The event-oriented framework allows for exchange of experience and initiation of joint business projects, with experienced women entrepreneurs available to act as mentors for young women starting a business. Every year, an average of 150 women entrepreneurs and women starting a business come to the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce for this network event. The network means that the experience gained by women entrepreneurs and women starting a business, and also the problems they encounter, are integrated directly into the work of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and are then passed on by its Brussels representative office to Eurochambres (the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry) and the European Commission.

Project aims:

• Further development of the SME network through intensive contacts to women entrepreneurs in other European countries
• Transfer of the ”EtrifftU– approach to other European Chambers
• Improving the dialogue between regional Chambers of Commerce and women in decision-making positions as well as transfer of experience to Eurochambres
• Constant dialogue with the European Commission on the issue of women entrepreneurship

Contact Person for any questions regarding ”EtrifftU–:

Dr. Mary Papaschinopoulou
IHK Nord – Association of Northern German Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Representation to the European Union
Avenue des Arts 19 A-D
B-1000 Brussels
Tel.: 0032-2-209 12 80
Fax: 0032-2-209 12 89
E-Mail: Mary.Papaschinopoulou@bruessel.ihknord.de