PEFA launched the Women’s Entrepreneurship Index; over 38% of entrepreneurs in Romania are women

Over 38% of entrepreneurs in Romania are women, 47% of companies with a turnover of over 10,000 lei have at least one woman as a shareholder and 25% of active companies are owned exclusively by women, said on Tuesday the president of the European Business Women’s Federation PEFA, Andreea Negru.

‘Over 38% of entrepreneurs in Romania are women, 47% of companies with a turnover of over 10,000 lei have at least one woman as a shareholder and 25% of active companies are owned exclusively by women. Women mainly run small and medium-sized businesses, predominantly in areas such as services, health, education, trade and creative industries,’ said Andreea Negru.

PEFA launched, for the first time in Romania, in partnership with the Government’s Department for Sustainable Development, the Women’s Entrepreneurship Index, a strategic tool that measures the level of participation, performance and impact of women in the Romanian business environment, correlated with the European objectives on gender equality.

‘The launch of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Index marks an essential moment for the recognition and consolidation of entrepreneurship in Romania. We are transforming public discourse into action and, by analyzing data, we have a true picture of the economic reality regarding women’s involvement in business and the degree of their representation in relation to gender quotas. We aim to offer authorities, the private sector and civil society a relevant working tool for the formulation of coherent, inclusive and results-oriented public policies. We have a clear objective: real support, increased visibility and strategic actions for gender balance in the economy,’ said the PEFA president.

In turn, Lorena Stoian, First Vice President of PEFA, mentioned that the Women’s Entrepreneurship Index represents an essential step in recognizing the real and valuable contribution of women to Romania’s economic development.

‘Through this instrument, we bring to the fore relevant data on women’s involvement in the business environment and, at the same time, identify the structural gaps that still limit female entrepreneurial potential. We aim for this index to become an annual standard of analysis, a transparent barometer comparable to that of other European Union member states. It is an initiative that, in the long term, will contribute to building a sustainable economy,’ said Lorena Stoian.

Senator Florin Jianu, honorary president of IMM Romania, noted, in his speech, the balance and optimism of businesswomen in the country, following the answers to the questionnaires in the Index.

‘If we were to find a subtitle for this Romanian Entrepreneurship Index, it would be ‘balance’ because, in fact, this is what women bring to the economy. I too declare myself a supporter of female entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship that declares itself optimistic. This moderate optimism of female entrepreneurs shows such a balance,’ explained Florin Jianu.

Laszlo Borbely, State Counsellor at the Government’s Department for Sustainable Development, stated that, at the level of the General Secretariat of the Government (SGG), 53% of executive positions are held by women, who also occupy about 70% of the positions within the SGG.

According to PEFA, the Index aims to provide a clear radiograph of the reality of female entrepreneurship in the country, to identify systemic barriers and highlight the progress made, while also providing a comparable reference framework at European level, useful for decision-makers, the business environment and civil society. The Index is the first national barometer that collects and analyses relevant data on the presence and role of women in the economy, their access to resources, financing, entrepreneurial education and economic decision-making.

‘Romania scores 58 out of 100 in the first edition of the PEFA Women’s Entrepreneurship Index, well below the EU average of 71 (2024 indicator), when we ranked last at European level’, is the main conclusion of the document launched on Tuesday. This positioning highlights the structural challenges faced by businesswomen in Romania: limited access to financing, reduced institutional support, persistent gender stereotypes and the lack of a coherent public policy dedicated to female entrepreneurship.

Other conclusions of the Index analysis presented by PEFA emphasize the need for: public policies with measurable objectives to support female entrepreneurship; dedicated funding and mentoring programs for startups founded by women; promoting successful female role models and integrating female leadership into the national economic culture.

‘The PEFA Index is not just an assessment tool, but a strategic call to action in a Romania where women represent over 50% of the population, but are still underrepresented in the economy. Promoting female entrepreneurship is not only a matter of equity, but an investment in the economic future of the country,’ PEFA also considers.

At the launch event of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Index, the following spoke, among others: Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice President for Social Rights and Competences, Quality Jobs and Training, European Commission, Eduard Bachide, Secretary of State, MApN, Anca Dragu, Governor of the National Bank of Moldova, Dana Dima, Executive Vice President Retail & Private Banking BCR and Eugenia Deaconu, Legal, Compliance & Public Affairs Director Pluxee Romania.

The European Business Women’s Confederation PEFA is a member organization of IMM Romania, the only national representative organization for SMEs, dedicated to promoting and supporting gender equality, the role and importance of entrepreneurship in the economy and society, at national and European levels.