Women entrepreneurs from the four corners of the world came in mass, several hundred participating from the member national associations and countries of the FCEM network including : OAME Argentina, NAWEA Azerbaijan, FCEB Belgium, OBME Brazil, GFAC Cameroon, Canada, AFCCET Chad, AFCECI Cote d’Ivoire, KRUG Croatia , ASSOFE Democratic Republic of Congo, EBWA Egypt, France, VDU Germany, BAWE Great Britain, GFAG Guinea, FKA Iceland, AIDDA Italy, LBWA Latvia, FFCEL Luxembourg, MAWB Malta, AMFCE Mauritius AMMJE Mexico, AFCEMG Monaco, Romania, AWBR Russia, Switzerland, ANAFES Senegal, KWEA South Korea, CNFCE Tunisia, NAWBO USA.

Ljubljana, the city of peace, harmony, history with its regard turned towards the north, its heart open to the sea, welcomed FCEM members for their annual congress consolidating and unifying worldwide ideas, dialog and forces for the promotion of women’s entrepreneurship.

Congress activities commenced with the holding of FCEM internal meetings
It was in the conference hall ‘Floor’ at the Lev Hotel on the morning of October 22 that the Steering Committee was held, presided over by Françoise Foning FCEM World President. Participating at the meeting were steering committee members: Leyla Khaiat Honorary World President from Tunisia, Enée Van Assche Treasurer from Belgium, Etta Carignani Secretary General, from Italy, the FCEM Vice-Presidents Lidia Angeli from Argentine, Ludmila Choubatiuk from Russia, Reyne Cienzo of France, Dior Diop from Senegal, Laura Frati Gucci from Italy, Marta Turk of Slovenia. Micheline Briclet President FCEB Belgium was invited to join the meeting.

After lunch on October 22, the FCEM Regional Commissioners Etta Carignani for Europe, Reyne Cienzo for Africa, Lidia Angeli and Maria Carmen Jasso for the Americas called together the FCEM National Presidents and members delegations breaking into their regional groupings to hold their reporting, discussions and planning meetings concerning their future projects and the issues to be addressed relative to their respective regions of the world.

The FCEM World Committee meeting, closed and open sessions were held in the morning of October 23, compressing allotted time so that members could lunch and participate at the partnership programme and exposition organised at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The exposition featured products from numerous sectors and branches of economic activities such as textiles, cosmetics, food processing, jewellery making, ceramics, arts and crafts, tapestry and rug making.

FCEM Congress Official Inauguration on October 24
The House of Parliament opened its doors to welcome the 54 th FCEM World Congress inauguration, conferences and the holding of the FCME General Assembly. The opening ceremonies of the congress held under the theme "The Furture Belongs to the Enterprising", commenced with the traditional FCEM Flags Ceremony wherein the colors of each country present are paraded and applauded, which was followed by the opening speech of the FCEM World President Françoise Foning, and the welcome address by the hosting association president Marta Turk before the delivery of the messages and presentations of the invited guest speakers. The Congress was honoured by the presence and participation of numerous distinguished and internationally renowned guests and speakers at the congress inauguration, conferences, and Getting to Know you programme, including: Guests and hosts included, Franc Susnik President of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, Luciano Borin Director of the Private Sector department of the African Development Bank, Joako Cuk President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia.

Among the expert speakers were: Guriqbal Singh Jaiya, Director of the WIPO SME Division presenting on the theme "The importance of the intellectual property in the global economy", Joelle Roge from WIPO speaking on "Women and Intellectual Property, Dinah Bennett W.I.N, Great Britain speaking on "The importance of women business networks the British Experience", Maria Cristina Pedicchio from Italy speaking on Women in Science, Ola Olabisi from BAWE Great Britain presenting her organisation that promotes Women Inventors, Adalheidur Karlsdottir, FKA Iceland presenting on the theme "The importance of language skills on the global market"

In parallel to the FCEM schedule of internal meetings, the congress programme offered richly rewarding and varied events for all participants:

To memorialise the congress, FCEM World President Françoise Foning and GIZ PODJETNOST President Marta Turk, honored each congress participant during the gala dinner with a richly decorated parchment « Certificate of Participation in the 54 th FCEM World Congress in Ljubljana, Slovenia », distributed by the Mayor of Bled bedecked in traditional Medieval costume.

A charity auction was organised during the Gala Dinner which attracted the enthusiastic and spontaneous participation of FCEM members who offered and bid on items representative of their countries and particular cultures. The funds collected were destined for charity organisations for handicapped and children in distress.

Slovenia’s rich cultural and gastronomic heritage enjoyed by all as GIZ PODJETNOST offered the participants the sights, sounds and flavors of Slovenian culture and life, helping congress goers to discover the marvels of Slovenian traditions through a guided visit to Ptuj, the oldest city of Slovenia, and to the village of Bled tucked away high in the mountains where participants climbed the steep hillside to enter into the Castle of Bled, a true fortress perched an imposing cliff over the placid lake Bled encircled by pristine lush forests. Congress participants were treated to a memorable dinner offered by the Mayor of Bled at the Hotel Toplice, on the banks of the Bled Lake where they were lulled by traditional a capella Slovenian melodies sung by an all-female choral group.

Among the highlights of the congress programme:

° The promulgation of the declaration of the 54 th FCEM World Congress of Ljubljana.

° New members of the FCEM Steering Committee were named: Tatjana Hine, BAWE Great Britain President was named FCEM Vice President, and Micheline Briclet, President of FCEB Belgium was named Special Commissioner for Technology and Development during the closed session of the World Committee meeting.

° The Monaco association of women entrepreneurs FCEMC became a full FCEM member and officially received the FCEM flag from Françoise Foning FCEM World President.

° The national associations of women entrepreneurs from Brazil, Luxembourg and Latvia presented their associations and requested membership in FCEM;

° The Yvonne Edmond Foinant biennial prize that gives recognition to the most dynamic national association, was attributed to the Slovenian national association of women entrepreneurs, GIZ PODJETNOST whose president Marta Turk received with pride the artistically crafted trophy presented to her by the FCEM World President Françoise Foning.

The 64-page FCEM News magazine edited in Rome by Marisa Pinto, head of FCEM publications in coordination with the FCEM Secretariat in Tunis published for the occasion featured a wide range of articles including: the editorial from Marisa Pinto, the editorial message from the FCEM World President Françoise Foning, a message from José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, an interview with Hero Talabani, Iraq First Lady, an overview of the FCEM World Committee of Seoul; and numerous other articles such as the celebration of FCEM Day in the different regions of the world, FCEM activities from March to October 2006, FCEM : priority ICT, FCEM Action Plan for Prosperity, articles about the activities of different FCEM associations from the countries of Belgium, Slovenia, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Monaco, Democratic Republic of Congo, Argentine and Brazil.

Last but not least, so as to assure good communication and follow up in all that concerns FCEM, the FCEM World President Françoise Foning officially presented the contact points of the FCEM Secretariat in Tunis, Teresa Hagerstrom-Danan and Felicite Wanji Ngah, as well as Aminata Kasse, who heads up the Geneva International Office.