The kick-off meeting of the SheEmpower project, Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean, took place on 4–5 February 2026 at the Environmental Information Centre of Rural Larnaka in Skarinou, Cyprus. The meeting was hosted by the Larnaca and Famagusta Districts Development Agency, which participates in the project as Lead Partner, welcoming representatives from partner organisations across the Mediterranean region.
The project aims to strengthen the competitiveness of women-led businesses by enhancing entrepreneurial, digital, and innovation skills. It promotes inclusive economic growth and job creation by supporting the launch of new women-led businesses and improving their access to regional and cross-border markets.
Through a range of targeted activities, the project will provide comprehensive support for women entrepreneurs, including specialised training in innovation, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship, as well as mentoring programmes designed to support business development. Additional initiatives will focus on strengthening digital business capacities and providing tools that enable women-led businesses to grow and expand their market reach.
The project will also support the development of the SheEmpower MED e-Store platform, designed to promote and commercialise products and services created by women-led businesses. In addition, innovation-focused initiatives such as the SheEmpower Innovation Award and Innovation Exhibition will showcase innovative solutions developed by women entrepreneurs across the Mediterranean.
Another key component of the project is the creation of the SheEmpower MED Network, which will bring together hundreds of women entrepreneurs from across the region and support cross-border collaboration through networking opportunities and business missions.
Structured across several thematic work areas, the project promotes cooperation, knowledge exchange, and networking among organisations and stakeholders from Cyprus, Spain, France, Italy, Egypt, and Lebanon. By fostering a strong Mediterranean ecosystem for women entrepreneurs, the initiative aims to accelerate innovation, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to inclusive economic development across the region.
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