DUSHANBE, October 7, 2014, Asia-Plus — A series of trainings for trainers (ToT) focused on legislative regulations, mechanisms of taxation, customs application and access to credits and loans for small and medium enterprises in the handicraft sector are taking place in Dushanbe, Qurghon Teppa and Shahritous from October 6 to October 10.
According to the Delegation of the European Union in Tajikistan, the objective of the trainings is twofold: on the one hand, increasing the knowledge of Business Intermediary Organizations (BIOs), local non-governmental organizations and artisans in key areas of legislation affecting the handicraft sector. On the other hand, raising awareness of SMEs on the main financial services offered by credit organizations – banks and microloan funds.
The trainings are provided by the National Association of Small and Medium Business of Tajikistan (NASMB) within the framework of the project, Handicraft and Business through Regional Integration and Fair Trade Market, which is funded by the European Union under the Central Asia Invest Program. Specific sessions of the training are being held by experts of the National Center of Legislation Under the President of Republic of Tajikistan, the Tax and Custom Committee, the Association of Microfinance Organizations (AMFOT) and the Microloan Fund “44 Chasma”.
It should be noted that project is implemented in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan by the international NGO Cesvi, together with three regional partners: the National Association of Small and Medium Business and the Union of Craftsmen, in Tajikistan, and the Bishkek Business Club, in Kyrgyzstan.
The overall objective of the project is to promote Tajik and Kyrgyz private sectors with a special emphasis on the regional integration of the handicraft sector. This objective will be achieved through capacity building and support to Tajik and Kyrgyz handicraft intermediary organizations.
