DUSHANBE, September 24, 2014, Asia-Plus — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the United States hold first in series of training courses for entrepreneurs on effective exporting.
According to the EBRD Dushanbe Office, the EBRD today holds the first export promotion training course under its regional program for local export-oriented enterprises in Tajikistan. The training, Assessment of Export Readiness of SMEs, will help inform 25 participants from different companies based in the Sughd province of Tajikistan about export promotion rules and supply chains as well as equip entrepreneurs with the essentials of skills necessary to assess their company with regards to export promotion. It is covering the practicalities of export, from identifying markets to logistics, legislation and trade finance.
The training is implemented by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), as part of a regional program funded by the United States SME Special Fund. The program works with export-oriented SMEs in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan and is now in its third year, having helped more than [100] enterprises.
When the program began in 2012, it was clear that there were few consultants in the region who had the expertise needed to carry out export promotion projects. Special training of trainers courses have been held in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia to help build up expertise in this area. This training is a follow up training, where trained consultants Mr. Ardasher Ibrohimov and Mr. Abdusattor Abdurazzoqov, who have sound knowledge and successful experience in the area, will train local entrepreneurs in Khujand.
The EBRD invites local exporters or SMEs which have the potential to export goods abroad. The training will include sessions on observing a business’ readiness for export, choosing markets, conducting market research, marketing tools, and the design, development and implementation of an effective export strategy.
“With the right quality controls and logistics in place, Tajik enterprises have the potential to export their goods to Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and other neighboring countries,” said Richard Jones, EBRD Head of Office in Dushanbe.
“But they often don’t have experience of exporting and rely on courage and intuition. Businesses often don’t research potential export markets, don’t use marketing tools and as a result, their initiative is often unrewarded. This training course is a first step in helping Tajik enterprises to make the most of their potential to export successfully.”
Tajikistan’s economic strengths are still developing. An exporter of hydro power, cotton, vegetables, fruit and dried fruit, Tajikistan’s imports currently overwhelm its exports.
