DUSHANBE, April 18, Asia-Plus – On Tuesday April 17, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Mountain Societies Development Support Program (MSDSP) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to conduct joint training events on the Law of Inspections for entrepreneurs of Tajikistan.
“MSDSP is delighted to have formed this new partnership with the IFC in a common effort to advance enterprise development through the promotion and creation of new initiatives and opportunities for the private sector in rural Tajikistan,” said Ilhom Mahkamboyev, MSDSP’s Enterprise Development Unit Manager.
The surveys of business environment in Tajikistan conducted by IFC in 2003 and 2006 revealed that inspections constitute the main administrative barrier for SME development. Adopted on July 28, 2006, the “Law on Business Entities Activity Inspections in Tajikistan” is expected to reduce the burden on businesses while at the same time increasing effectiveness of inspections by regulating inspection procedures and defining the rights and responsibilities of inspected entities and inspectors. Having supported the development of the Inspections Law, IFC’s Business Enabling Environment/SME Policy Project is currently working on its implementation. Building awareness through media and training events is a critical component of this effort.
Based on mutual agreement, IFC will train MSDSP trainers in the Rasht Valley, Khatlon province, and Gorno Badakhshan, while MSDSP trainers trained under the partnership will then provide direct training for entrepreneurs in these regions.
“In an effort to maximize coverage of our Inspections Law training program, we partner with institutions like MSDSP, which have extensive reach throughout Tajikistan,” said Andrea Dall’Olio, the IFC Project Manager. “This allows us to leverage both our expert knowledge on inspections and MSDSP’s capability to effectively “spread the word” to people out in the field.”
IFC has proposed partnership to a number of international organizations and projects involved in supporting the SME sector in Tajikistan. By the end of this year, IFC plans to conduct 12-15 train-the-trainer events for its partners in key inspections procedures in accordance with the adopted Law. As a next step, IFC will provide informational and advisory support for its partners in their training of entrepreneurs in all regions of Tajikistan – Sughd and Khatlon provinces, districts subordinate to the center (RRPs), Gorno Badakhshan and Dushanbe.
IFC’s Business Enabling Environment/SME Policy Project is financed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). MSDSP, a project of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) of Tajikistan, promotes participatory community development and efficient management of natural resources to contribute to sustainable poverty alleviation.
