BRICS WBA Global Сhairperson Monica Monteiro: Collaboration between BRICS countries can result in more robust support networks for women entrepreneurs

Women Entrepreneur Forum (WEFORUM) was held 26-27 March in Minas Gerais, Brazil, gathering over 1,150 participants, with the possibility of attending the event via videoconference.

The event provided a platform to discuss key issues related to women’s leadership in the economic, innovation, and sustainable business sectors, as well as to promote best practices for gender equality in the corporate environment.

The Governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, highlighted that women tend to have a "more long-term, less immediate perspective," emphasising that female leadership is generally more thoughtful and strategic.

BRICS WBA Global Сhairperson Monica Monteiro, shared insights about the association's prospects in Brazil and globally, highlighting the progress made so far in an exclusive interview with TV BRICS.

Monica emphasised that the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance works broadly to promote female inclusion in the technology and innovation sectors. She mentioned key initiatives such as education programmes, mentoring, fostering entrepreneurship, strategic partnerships, advocacy for public policies, and international events as the pillars of this collaboration.

"These initiatives not only equip women with the necessary skills but also create a supportive environment for them to thrive and lead innovative projects that contribute to global economic growth," said Monteiro.

Monica Monteiro also underscored the importance of developing transnational mentoring programmes, hosting dedicated networking events, and creating digital platforms that facilitate communication and cooperation among female entrepreneurs from BRICS countries, which can result in more robust support networks for women entrepreneurs.

She also highlighted the significance of sharing experiences and launching new projects in areas such as health, driving innovation initiatives that address global needs.

The event featured 104 participants who registered for 85 business meetings with representatives from 15 countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, the United Arab Emirates, Chile, Peru, Paraguay, and others. The majority of buyers came from the food and beverage sector, followed by cosmetics and apparel.

The first day of the event focused on topics such as public policies, leadership, agriculture, trade, and industry, while the second day was dedicated to successful models in research and development, with a focus on business internationalisation, especially for women-led companies within BRICS.