Prague, “Women in Business”, an event at the Embassy on female entrepreneurship

Within the framework of the Foreign Ministry's activities for promoting economic diplomacy, the Embassy of Italy in Prague and the Italian-Czech Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CAMIC) are organising this afternoon the event 'Women in Business: Opportunities and Challenges in Czechia".

The meeting will be opened by the Ambassador of Italy to the Czech Republic, Mauro Marsili, and the President of the Italian-Czech Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Danilo Manghi. This will be followed by speeches by former Czech MEP and businesswoman Martina Dlabajova and a video-message by the President of the Marisa Bellisario Foundation, Lella Golfo.

The Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy, Counsellor Laura Calligaro, will moderate a round table discussion in which Tereza Rychtaříková, Director of the Legal Department of Vodafone (CZ), Valentina Stranieri, member of the Board of Directors of UniCredit (CZ), and Dr. Laura Catarrasa, who will illustrate the issues related to maternity leave, will take part. The conclusions will be drawn by the Deputy Head of the European Commission Representation in Prague, Eva Horelová.

In his speech, Ambassador Marsili will also recall the commitment of the Italian G7 Presidency on the topic of women in the labour world and, specifically, the conclusions of the Summit held in Apulia last June.

Today's initiative is also intended to be the starting point for future activities of the Embassy aimed at fostering the creation of a "network" between Italian-Czech women entrepreneurs and the exchange of ideas and good practices, thus strengthening the economic and commercial ties between Italy and the Czech Republic. The activities are triggered by positive signs in Italy, where women's employment struck an all-time record of 52.2% in 2023. A virtuous trend that is also reflected in the European average, which rose from 56.7% in 2009 to 65.7% in 2023.

At the same time, women are 52% of the European population, but account for 34.4% of the EU's self-employed workers and 30% of entrepreneurs in the start-up sector. The Italian Embassy's event intends, therefore, to promote the widest participation of women in the entrepreneurial world, reflecting on its potential, development opportunities and overcoming the challenges that still exist.