Last July 9th and 10th 2010 Beirut host the II Mediterranean Women Entrepreneurs Forum and AFAEMME's Annual Meeting.

The II MEDA, organized by AFAEMME together with the Association of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) and the Lebanese Businesswomen Association (LBWA), has been attended among others by the Vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, Mr. Mohamad Lamaa; the President of the Women Entrepreneurs Commission of ASCAME, Mrs. Najoua Attia; the Ambassador of the European Union in Lebanon, Mr. Patrick Laurent; the Minister of Finance of Jordan, Mr. Mohamad Bou Hammour; and the Former President of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of the Mediterranean Union, Mr. Jacques Sarraf.

During the official opening Mrs. Leila Karami, President of LBWA and host of this event, awarded Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, AFAEMME's President, for all her efforts in promoting gender equality and contributing with her Association to the goal of more women achieving decision-making positions both in politics and in the economy.

Speakers of the different sessions highlighted the importance of Small and Medium Enterprises for the Mediterranean economy and of strong networking relations between businesswomen from both shores of the Mediterranean. In fact during the two days of Forum several fruitful business relations, mostly among women from the Maghreb and women from the south of Europe, could be established.

During the Annual Meeting of AFAEMME the Association's members evaluated past actions and discussed about future activities and goals. Furthermore, the international network of AFAEMME has been widened by the incorporation of three new members: Association Femmes Chefs d'Entreprise Monaco (AFCE Monaco), Association for Women's Total Advancement & Development Egypt (AWTAD) and Italian Women in the World (IWW).

The Forum was closed with a meeting of the Presidents of the participating Businesswomen Associations and the speakers with the Lebanese First President, Mr. Michel Suleiman.

You can view more pictures of the II MEDA in our Photo Gallery.