OSCE supports young Uzbek entrepreneurs
The OSCE Centre in Tashkent is working to increase opportunities for young people in order to keep them from leaving Uzbekistan, ease social tensions and stimulate the country's economy. With the help of the Republican Youth Social Movement "Kamolot", the Centre has organized a series of training workshops to help young Uzbeks develop their own business plans and learn to defend their interests.
Expanding an existing small business
Bokhodir Toshpulatov runs a small business producing and selling balls for sport. He took part in phase one of the OSCE-sponsored youth entrepreneurial project in his home province, Ferghana. Here, he presented his plan to expand his business and produce more types of balls for a larger market. He was chosen to participate in phase two, where he learned the details of drafting a complete business plan.
In mid-August, Toshpulatov showed off his business proposal at the exhibition "Made in Uzbekistan" in Tashkent. His plan was selected by a panel of experts to be submitted to a local commercial bank for funding. He is now in the process of arranging funding from the Ferghana branch of Hamkorbank.
"The OSCE training expanded my knowledge of private entrepreneurship and legal issues," he said. "It allowed me to define the direction and possibilities of my own business plan."
Learning the required skills
Toshpulatov added that the most important part of the training for him was gaining in-depth knowledge about running a small business and learning to defend his legal rights as an entrepreneur.
"There are a number of well-tried paths in business development, but to use all available opportunities efficiently, you need sound professional knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, a broad mind and the willpower to protect your rights and handle legal obstacles," he explained.
Asked about his future plans, Toshpulatov said that he intends to make his product well known nationally and internationally - an ambitious undertaking for the young entrepreneur. But with support from his country and the OSCE Centre, he just may realize them.
The OSCE Centre's economic activities
Besides supporting young entrepreneurs like Toshpulatov, the Centre organizes business training workshops for women to encourage their economic participation in society and independence. It also supports a small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) information centre and, with the Chamber of Trade and Industry, has published a handbook on trends in Uzbek business development. The handbook makes information on SME legislation accessible to businessmen and women.
In co-operation with the Supreme Economic Court of Uzbekistan, the Centre produced a series of television shows called Entrepreneurs and the Law. The shows featured real cases where entrepreneurs' rights were protected to promote public confidence in setting up private businesses.