(ANSA) - Milan, October 14 - A conference on empowering women for inclusive and sustainable industrial development in the Middle East and North Africa opened at Expo on Wednesday under the auspices of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Italian foreign ministry and sector organisations. The three-day event explores how to promote and sustain female entrepreneurship in the MENA region and partnership opportunities between Italy and other countries in the area. Female unemployment in MENA countries reaches 40%, higher than any other region in the world. At the same time the region has the lowest percentage of women entrepreneurs: 12-15% compared to 31-38% in emerging countries. "Women across the globe have difficulty building networks," ex-foreign minister and Radical Party founder Emma Bonino said.
    "Instead it's something we need to learn how to do, in order to use tools that are effective. In this respect Italian women can make their contribution thanks to our patrimony of small and medium-sized businesses," she said.