The Women by the border and Women by the border Follow-up projects were part of the same project entity. Th e goal was to strengthen the expertise of women entrepreneurs in the border region. Th is would be achieved by: seeking new cooperation models and operational procedures; arranging meetings and contacts between women from diff erent industries from both Finland and the Republic of Karelia; removing practical barriers for working together; arranging cultural training for women entrepreneurs necessary for cooperation; teamwork and Russian language training; providing information regarding marketing products from the perspective of cooperation with Russia and Russian customers; and by increasing knowledge and awareness by communicating information regarding women entrepreneurs as diversely as possible in Finland and in Russia.