In celebration of International Women’s Day, a roundtable discussion titled “Building Futures: Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs on International Women’s Day” was held in Fergana by UNDP in cooperation with the Women’s Entrepreneurship Support Company “Hamroh” and partners.

The event brought together policymakers, experts, and women entrepreneurs to discuss the challenges and opportunities for women’s economic empowerment in Uzbekistan.

Under the global theme of the International Women’s Day “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”, the roundtable focused on the importance of women’s economic empowerment and supporting their journey as entrepreneurs.

A landmark event during the roundtable was the official launch ceremony of the “Hamroh” company’s new initiative to support women’s entrepreneurship. This initiative will be implemented in collaboration with UNDP and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, opening up new opportunities for developing women’s entrepreneurship in the country.

Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative, reiterated the importance of fostering an enabling environment for women in business:

“Investing in women entrepreneurs is investing in sustainable development. When women have favourable conditions for thriving in business, entire communities prosper. UNDP remains committed to removing barriers and creating more opportunities for women across Uzbekistan with our partners”.

As noted by the Director of the “Hamroh” company, Dilfuza Nurmatova, the joint project will contribute to expanding women’s economic opportunities through education, professional development, and expert support, including mentorship and acceleration programs. She also emphasized that “Hamroh” is the first company in Uzbekistan to provide free consultations for women entrepreneurs, aiming to inspire women to run their businesses successfully.

The roundtable agenda included a presentation of the study conducted under the Aid or Trade project, funded by the Government of Finland. The study explored barriers faced by women entrepreneurs, including social care responsibilities, limited access to finance, and sector-specific obstacles.

UNDP experts presented the preliminary findings, emphasizing the need for improved social care policies, enhanced financial accessibility, and expanded training opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

These insights were further reinforced by the experiences of successful women entrepreneurs across Uzbekistan, who highlighted their struggles and triumphs.

UzA