Women’s leadership role in trade is vital nowadays. It’s not enough to change the narrative on women in trade and requires action.

On the margins of the Regional Meeting of the Network of trade facilitation committees (NTFCs), the regional project “Trade Facilitation in Central Asia” implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) organized the second “Central Asian Networking and Leadership Conference for Women in Trade” in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. 

The event brought together female representatives from ministries of trade, customs service, veterinary service, and private sector from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The conference aimed to enhance women’s role in trade and trade facilitation, improve their leadership skills, and create opportunities for their digital expertise development.

Ms. Felicitas Siek, Manager of the regional project “Trade Facilitation in Central Asia” implemented by GIZ, emphasized: “It is important for GIZ to follow a declared goal of gender development from Sustainable Development Goals and we as Trade Facilitation in Central Asia project try to contribute to supporting women in Central Asia in making their career growth in border agencies, ministries and trade facilitation related institutions and reinforce all the reforms for female perspective.  Nowadays, women need to increase their digital skills, as digitalization is the future. Women should know how to use data and all the necessary digital tools to develop their career and increase their understanding of their role”.

The participants also discussed the role of women in trade, what is needed for more women to play a leading role in trade, and shared their success stories in their work and business.

Umida Pirmukhamedova, Chief Inspector of the Targeting and Risk Monitoring Department of the Customs Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Chairman of the Council of Women in the Customs Committee: “The role of women in trade is actual and very important nowadays. The Customs Committee cooperates with GIZ and other organizations through training to raise their awareness of the gender issue and improve their skills. This helps in identifying new areas where we can develop and cooperate. As a result, this cooperation helps to create the roadmaps that further provide the necessary business conditions for women in trade”.

The participants also practiced the skills of overcoming personal barriers to business growth and business negotiations.

B.Khudoyberdiyev, UzA