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Introducing the Women Entrepreneurs Committee of the Iran-Spain Joint Chamber to the Spanish Ministry of Equality

Developing institutional ties and identifying opportunities for cooperation in women’s entrepreneurship and economic participation.As part of the Iran-Spain Joint Chamber of Commerce’s Women Entrepreneurs Committee’s efforts to expand international relations, Ms. Orya Siahpoosh, the committee’s secretary, visited the Spanish Ministry of Equality (Ministerio de Igualdad) in Madrid to introduce the committee, its objectives, and its scope of activities. This initiative aimed to identify formal communication channels with Spanish institutions active in the women’s sector and to explore possibilities for exchanging experiences and future collaboration.During the visit, the committee’s approach to supporting women entrepreneurs, strengthening their presence in economic activities, and fostering connections between businesswomen in both countries was outlined. The Joint Chamber’s interest in learning about Spain’s programs and experiences regarding women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, and economic and social participation was also conveyed, and a formal request for continued communication and coordination with the relevant department was initiated.

The Spanish Ministry of Equality: The Policy-Making Body for Equal Opportunities

The Spanish Ministry of Equality is a key policy-making body regarding equal opportunities for women and men and the fight against discrimination. Part of the Ministry’s mission—carried out in collaboration with relevant agencies—is dedicated to improving employment opportunities for women and promoting equality in the workplace and within business enterprises; these areas align directly with the objectives of the Joint Chamber’s Women Entrepreneurs Committee.

Spain’s Women’s Institute (Instituto de las Mujeres)

Among the institutions affiliated with this Ministry, Spain’s “Women’s Institute” (Instituto de las Mujeres) holds a special position. It is a public body with organizational autonomy, operating under the Ministry of Equality, and was established in 1983. Its mission focuses on strengthening women’s participation in economic, social, and cultural life, as well as advancing policies regarding women’s employment and self-employment.In this context, the Women’s Institute serves as a relevant point of contact for the Committee to pursue specialized engagement and gain insight into Spain’s practical experiences in this field.

The Emprendedoras Program: Bridging Policy and Business

The significance of this institution for an economic organization lies in the link between policies supporting women and practical business development programs. For instance, the “Women Entrepreneurs” (Emprendedoras) program—launched through an initiative by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and financially supported by the Institute of Women and the European Social Fund Plus—focuses on supporting women who intend to launch, expand, or stabilize their businesses. Training, consulting, business plan feasibility analysis, and networking with other women business owners are among the services offered through this program.Understanding these structures can help clarify……facilitate connections with specialized institutions, identify training and consulting models, and explore the possibility of professional dialogues between stakeholders from both countries. The primary objective of this initiative is to establish connections that can gradually lead to practical opportunities for networking and capacity-building among women entrepreneurs.Due to the facility’s security regulations, photography within the interior sections was not permitted; the images captured were restricted to authorized areas.Secretariat of the Iran-Spain Joint Chamber of Commerce