Only 11 percent of Kosovo women have businesses registered in their names and only 8 percent own property, said the panelists at a conference organised by TEB Bank, Kosovo Women’s Chamber of Commerce, women’s business association “Sheera”, and “Women for Women International.”

Minister of Trade and Industry Hikmete Bajarami, also present in the event, commended women’s efforts in doing business in a challenging environment and in an unfinished transition. She said equality between men and women can only be achieved through women’s economic empowerment. “To this day, women continue to face different barriers. Some even face limited possibilities in education. Others don’t enjoy the necessary institutional support,” said Bajrami adding that as a result of cultural and patriarchal reasons, women in Kosovo don’t enjoy equal rights.