Some 48 local businesses in Tajikistan, including 19 women-led and women managed SMEs, received new and modern tools and knowledge to export abroad.
Press release issued by the International Trade Center (ITC) Tajikistan says the practical and action oriented one-on-one, on-the-job coaching services were provided in the framework of the European Union-funded project Ready4Trade Central Asia. The ITC, the agency implementing the project, reportedly organized a wrap up event to present the finalization of the Export Management Coaching Initiative (EMCI) in Almaty, Kazakhstan on March 18, 2022.
The EMCI helps business-owners to resolve day-to-day problems faced in the management of their export operations. The initiative aimed to improve the capacity of selected small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to comply with cross-border requirements. Overall, 212 enterprises across all five countries in Central Asia have benefited from the tools, knowledge and technical assistance provided under the Initiative. The national partner of the project in Tajikistan was the National Association of Small and Medium Businesses.
ITC’s Trade Facilitation Consultant, Mr. Augustin Baret, led the coordination efforts of the EMCI initiative over the past year.
“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economies of Central Asia has been profound, and will have serious implications for their continued development and diversification in the years to come. The recovery will be built on the strength and resilience of MSMEs given that they will remain the backbone of the global socio-economic landscape in the region”, he said.
“In this context, the Export Management Coaching Initiative under the Ready4Trade Central Asia project has come at a most important time. The initiative contributed to address some of the main trade-related bottlenecks faced by exporters in the region and improved their overall knowledge on export management”, he added.
The regional event reflected on lessons learned from the delivery of coaching missions implemented throughout 2021. The participants had also a chance to take a closer look at the goods of beneficiaries on display at the exhibition. The event participants shared their observations and recommendations to adapt EMCI in the region and ensure project sustainability in the future.
The Ready4Trade Central Asia aims to support the development of intra-regional and international trade in five Central Asian countries. The 4-year initiative is a trade component of a larger EU-funded program which aims to support Investment, Competitiveness and Trade, thus contributing to sustainable and inclusive economic development in the region. The Ready4Trade Central Asia project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Trade Center.
