An estimated 700 women entrepreneurs participated at the 2006 FCEM World Committee April 29 through May 3, 2006 held under the theme "Cooperation and Integration for Prosperity and Common Growth of the World Women Entrepreneurs".

The FCEM Committee presided over by Françoise Foning FCEM World President was organized by the Korean association of women entrepreneurs KWEA and was hosted by the Korean Small and Medium Business Administration.

The event was marked by the presence of honored and invitees and speakers including the First Lady of Korea, the President of the Grand National Party, the Minister of Equality, Gender, Women and Family, the Minister of Commerce, Industry & Energy, the Mayor of Seoul, the Director of the Private Sector Department of the African Development Bank, the President of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry...

The FCEM members participating from the four corners of the globe were very delighted to have the opportunity to meet and get to know the women entrepreneurs attending from the countries of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mali, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and who are interested in membership in FCEM.

In parallel to the meetings of the World Committee, a richly rewarding programme was provided by KWEA which included: conferences, an exposition trade fair with over 30 major women owned Korean and foreign companies, a partnership and virtual matchmaking programme allowing for a rich sharing of experiences and ideas, a charity auction to profit the fund for the creation of enterprises by disabled women, and the visit to the internationally renowned Korean Folklore Village.

Preliminary report

Committee Theme:

Timeframe: Held April 29 to May 3, 2006

Presided by: Françoise Foning FCEM World President

Organized by: KWEA, Korean Association of Women Entrepreneurs,

Hosted by: Small and Medium Business Administration of Korea

Honoured Speakers and Participants:

The First Lady of Korea, Geun-Hye Park Chairperson Grand National Party, the Korean Minister of Gender, Equality, Women and Family, the Mayor of Seoul Lee Myung Bak, Luciano Borin Director Private Sector Department AfDB, Kyung-Shik Sohn Chairman CJ Group and president of the Korean Chamber of Commerce, Hee-Beom, Lee former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy and current president of the Korean International Trade Association.

Sponsors and Patronage:

Korean International Trade Association, the African Development Bank Private Sector Department, Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Affairs, CJ Group, KFSB, KOTRA, Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Korean Federation of Small and Medium Business. Corporate sponsors: Broadin Media, SK Telecom, Hyundai, Woori Bank, L’Oreal, Royal, KIC, BANDO, Youngdo Velvet Company, BOW and Hite mineral water, Gyodong C.M. Inc,

Location: Grand Hilton Hotel, Seoul, South Korea

Programme:

FCEM Steering Committee, FCEM Regional Commissioners Meetings, FCEM World Committee Closed and Opened Sessions, IR Conferences, Welcome Reception, Welcome Dinner, Luncheon and Charity Auction, Trade Exposition, Business and Partnership Programme, Gala Dinner and Field Trip to Korean Village

Participation:

An estimated 700 persons, women entrepreneurs

Delegations and Participating countries:

Belgium FCEB, Benin, Cameroon GFAC, Chad AFCCET, Egypt EBWA, France, Great Britain BAWE, Guinea GFAG, Italy AIDDA, Mexico AMMJE, Monaco AFCEMG, Russia AWBR, Senegal ANAFES, Slovenia ASE, KWEA South Korea, Taiwan CWBA, Tunisia CNFCE, Switzerland, USA NAWBO

Participating Invited Countries:

Azerbaijan NAWEA, Bangladesh WEAB, China CAWE, Hong Kong, Indonesia IWAPI, Japan, Mali, Singapore SCWO, Thailand, Vietnam VWEC

World Committee Special Edition Publication:

Special 24-Page edition FCEM News edited and design by Marisa Pinto, FCEM Publications Chef, inn coordination with the FCEM Secretariat Tunis.

Articles included: editorial from Marisa Pinto, congratulatory address from Lee Hee-ho former South Korea First Lady, message from KWEA President Myung Kum Jung, FCEM World President Françoise Foning’s message; articles on FCEM Day, FCEM activities from October 2005 to March 2006, FCEM the pioneer in the application of ICT to serve associations and enterprises, overviews of 53^{rd FCEM World Congress held in October 2005 in Argentina and the 54th FCEM World Congress to be held in Slovenia in October 2006; articles from the National Associations FCEB Belgium, AIDDA Italy, FKA Iceland, and information of the upcoming FCEM weekend in June in Spain.}

Media coverage:

In addition to daily national television news coverage of the event, national print media coverage of the event included: dongponews, womennews, The Woman Times, The Korean Post, Daejeontimes, Ohmy News, and Diplomacy.

Major Highlights of the 2006 FCEM World Committee and events programme:

° 2006 FCEM World Committee: FCEM Declaration of Seoul promulgated (see attached document). The participants at the committee and events named Françoise Foning the "Nelson Mandela for Women Entrepreneurs". 

° FCEM supports Plea for Peace pronounced by the representative of the national association from Chad. (See attached in French)

° Charity auction held during welcome luncheon raised an estimated $15,000 for financing of micro enterprises for handicapped women. Items auctioned ranged from heritage ceramic vases, graphic prints and paintings to designer handbags, haute couture, and jewellery donated by the South Korean First Lady, the Korean Ministers, FCEM members and sponsors.

° Some $5 million worth of export deals were signed during the 3 days of the FCEM World Committee programme events according to a report from the Small and Medium Business Administration of Korea

° Partnership Accord were elaborated and or signed by the associations of women entrepreneurs of South Korea with the national association from mainland China and the national association CBWA from Taiwan

° KWEA, South Korea named regional antenna and pole, and head of the FCEM Commission for the Asia region. The Korean government has indicated their support for the association in the realisation of this important mission.

° The national association from Azerbaijan NAWEA, represented by its President Vafa Afandiyeva became an observer member of FCEM. The association NAWEA National Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan, which has been godmothered by BAWE Great Britain President Tatjana Hine, was founded at the end of 2003 in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan and counts today 45 women business owner members.

° Presentations during the World Committee meeting for membership in FCEM were given by the national associations of women entrepreneurs from China, Bangladesh, Indonesia (past member wishing to rejoin) Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Association representatives were provided the procedures and steps to complete for becoming an FCEM member.

° KWEA the Korean association of women entrepreneurs named full FCEM member in October 2005 received officially from the FCEM World President Françoise Foning the FCEM National Association Flag and Insignia Pin.

° The expositions space on two levels in the conference center hall featured over 30 of the top leading women owned enterprises from the clothing, cosmetics, food processing, jewellery, home appliances, health foods and natural products, ceramics, souvenirs, magazine publishing.

° World Famous haute couture Korean designer Lee Young Hee presented her latest fashions inspired by traditional Korean costumes.

° KWEA shared with the participants Korean culture and traditions through the guided visit of the tourist park Korean Village where they were taught hands-on how to make Kim Shee (hot cabbage relish) and rice cakes.

° It is noted that in parallel with the official visit from April 26 to 29 of the President of the African Development Bank leading a delegation of Ministers from 14 African countries to meet with the President of South Korea and to promote Korean interest and investment in Africa, in order to maintain the high impact, the FCEM World President Françoise Foning encouraged the African Development Bank to provide travel subsidies for representatives of FCEM member associations from African nations so that they would be able to participate in large numbers.

FCEM Steering Committee, April 30, 2006. from 9h00 to 16h00. Swan Meeting Room. Presided over by Françoise Foning FCEM World President. A special welcome was given by KWEA President Jeong Myeung Keum. Participating in the meeting were the members of the FCEM World Committee: Enee van Assche, Etta Carignani, Ludmila Choubatiuk, Reyne Cienzo, Dior Diop, Phyllis Hill Slater, Marta Turk. Invited in was Micheline Briclet. Simultaneous translation French-English was provided. The meeting was audio taped.

FCEM Regional Commissioners meetings, April 30, 2006 from 16h00 to 18h00. Separate meetings for European and African Groups, Asia and Americas groups combined.

FCEM World Committee Closed Session, May 1, 2006 from 8h30 to11h00 in the Diamond Hall, presided over by Françoise Foning FCEM World President. Attending were the members of the steering committee, the national presidents and representatives of FCEM member associations and the FCEM regional commissioners. Subjects covered in the session were the points of the agenda pertinent to FCEM activity reports, approval of previous minutes, budgets, events planning etc.

Inauguration Ceremony and Luncheon and Charity Auction, May 1, 11h00 to 14h00 in the Convention Hall, estimated attendance was around 700 persons, in addition to FCEM members, the ambassadors from a great number of the FCEM countries were in attendance as well as programme sponsors from the private sector.

The opening ceremony featured welcome remarks were provided by KWEA President Jeong Myeung Keum, followed by an opening message from Françoise Foning FCEM World President, a speech of encouragement from the First Lady of Korea, a keynote speech was provided by the administrator of the Small and Medium Business Administration and congratulatory remarks were provide by the Mayor of Seoul. A magnificent film about KWEA and FCEM was shown, demonstrating the important advances of women in Korea and the dynamism of the country’s women entrepreneurs.

The "charity auction to create a fund for business start-ups by disabled women" was held during welcome luncheon and raised an estimated $15,000 for financing of micro enterprises for handicapped women. FCEM Secretary General Etta Carignani animated as the co-master or ceremonies, pushing the bids higher and higher. Items auctioned ranged from heritage ceramic vases, graphic prints and paintings to designer handbags, haute couture, and jewellery donated by the South Korean First Lady, the Korean Ministers, FCEM members and sponsors. The purpose of the event was to create a fund for aspiring women entrepreneurs who are disabled.

FCEM World Committee Open Session, May 1, from 15h00 to 18h30 in the Grand Ballroom, presided over by the FCEM World President Françoise Foning.

Launching the opened session, KWEA President Jeong Myeung Keum provided welcome words and introduced the special guest of honor and speaker Ms. Geun-Hye Park President of the Grand National Party.

The official opening of the session was announced by FCEM World President Françoise Foning. Special invited guest and development partner of FCEM, the Direct of the Private Sector Department of the African Development Bank, Mr. Luciano Borin provided words of encouragement and an overview of the relations between FCEM and the AfDB.

The FCEM World President welcomed the invited national associations from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Mali, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam to present themselves and their wish to become a member of FCEM. The 54th FCEM World Congress to be held in Slovenia in October 2006 was presented through a film shown by ASE President Marta Turk.

The morning session 9h00 to 10h30 was dedicated to ‘getting to know one another’s countries and opportunities’.

In the session under the theme "Business and Opportunities" among the presenters on the topics: women entrepreneurs in their respective countries, their national association and or providing an overview of business opportunities were Marta Turk, ASE Slovenia, Maria Elena Mendoza from Mexico, Tatjana Hine from Great Britain, Douja Gharbi from Tunisia, Nicole Delacour from Monaco, Phyllis Hill Slater USA.

Under the topic "Financing for Enterprise", providing an over view of the micro credit programme AEMfe in partnership with FCEM was the President and founder of the programme Chantal Lobert from Belgium.

An estimated over 110 women entrepreneurs participated in the Partnership Programme from 16h00 to 18h00 that featured the presentation of Virtual matchmaking and the FCEM-CandGo Platforms provided by Micheline Briclet, president of the Belgian Association of Women Entrepreneurs and developer of the FCEM Internet Virtual Offices system, in tandem with the Partnership Programme cocktail and networking programme.

Tourism programme to Korean Folk Village May 3, an estimated over 150 FCEM members and friends participated in the day long guided visit to the internationally renowned tourism site Korean Village, a typical traditional rural village reconstructed in the greater Seoul area, to experience the time-honored wisdom and heritage of ancient Korea. Participants learned first hand how to make Kim-shee, the very spicy hot cabbage relish and the process for pounding into form and making rice cakes. They were also treated to the sights and sounds of traditional Korea through acrobatic performances, farm music and demonstrations.

Organised by KWEA, Seoul, South Korea

Plea for Peace in Chad

Declaration from Madame Khadija Kolingar,

President of the National Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Chad (AFCCET)

Madame World President FCEM,

Mesdames FCEM National Presidents ,

Mesdames Delegates,

Mesdames Participants,

Mesdames and Messieurs,

At the moment when I was packing my suitcase for my depart to Seoul, South Korea to participate in the FCEM World Committee, an aggression painstakingly prepared and the goal in evidence that to impede the holding of democratic presidential elections… on 3 May 2006 in Chad.

This attempt to destabilize was foiled thanks to the vigilance and the quick action of our valiant defence and security forces.

Dear Presidents, Distinguished participants,

Having been for so long the victim of war, my country aspires to one fundamental thing, to PEACE.

It can never be said and repeated too much or too often, that Chad just like all other countries of the world has the right to live in peace and in security within its national territory – it is for this reason that we the women of Chad, wives and mothers constituting the majority of the population, through our organisation of a great march on April 27, 2006, denounce and condemn this aggression.

In terms of our own work, I am persuaded that the FCEM World Committee offers the occasion and the possibility for the delegations coming from the 5 continents to exchange and share on all subjects of common interest.

This forum will always be for us, the women entrepreneurs from countries in development, an experience to learn from our more advanced colleagues in the domain of women’s entrepreneurship. We count on the active solidarity of all the members of FCEM from the 5 continents.

I wish you every success and very constructive work during the FCEM World Committee. Thank you each and every one.

Khadja Kolingar

President AFCCET