The event, which is sponsored by Bank of Valletta and the British High Commission, will be held at the Hilton between 8.30am and 3pm.

Speakers include the president of the British Association of Women in Business Tatjana Hine, American ambassador Molly Bordonaro and other international and Maltese speakers.

Through its participation in international seminars, the Malta Association of Women in Business is kept updated with what is happening in other countries vis-à-vis female entrepreneurship

Studies abroad suggest that the significant obstacles that are encountered when starting up in business include overburdening by administrative tasks, difficulties in combining work and family life, access to finance, insecurity in job status, fear of the risks involved, lack of support from a professional organisation and the lack of support from existing networks, among others.

The Malta Association of Women in Business has asked local councils to nominate the best woman in business in their locality, to acknowledge the valuable work that these women are doing. In the absence of a nomination, the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises and other associations have also sent in their nominations.

The nominated women are: Marthese Attard, Beatrix Axiaq, Pauline Bartolo, Antonia Buhagiar, Marisa Cauchi Hili, Ann Cutajar, Alexia Farrugia, Tania Farrugia, Joan Haber, Marthese Micallef, Doris Mifsud, Patricia Musu, Deborah Refalo, Mariella Scerri, Josette Vella and Suzanne Zammit Tabona.