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TASHKENT (TCA) — Micro, small and medium-sized private businesses in Uzbekistan will now benefit from a new Regional Small Business Programme (RSBP) launched in Tashkent on March 1, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) reported. Continue reading
BISHKEK (TCA) — Two groups of advanced traditional crafts masters from Hungary are in Bishkek and Tashkent, the capital cities of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, to conduct craft trainings for rural women. It’s the first such crafts training taught by Hungarian masters in Central Asia. Continue reading
TASHKENT (TCA) — The Ijtimoiy Fikr Center for the Study of Public Opinion has conducted a poll entitled “Business Environment in Uzbekistan through the Eyes of Entrepreneurs”. The survey questioned Uzbekistan’s entrepreneurs and farmers, 84.7% of which positively evaluated the business environment in the nation, the Jahon information agency reported. In their opinion, the transfer of centers of ‘one window’ government registration of entrepreneurship entities from the structure of hokimiyats (state administrations of different levels) to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice was of particular importance for further improving the quality, accessibility and transparency of rendering public services to businesses. They pin great hopes on the creation of the State Fund for the Support of Business Development under the Cabinet of Ministers, whose resources can be used as a guarantee for small business entities taking loans from commercial banks. More than half of the respondents (54.1%) said that over the past year they managed to achieve significant positive results in their activities, that is, to obtain the expected profit or to ensure the projected level of development of their enterprise. Effective economic activity allowed entrepreneurs to enter a qualitatively new level of development: from the accumulation of profits to investing in fixed assets. 50.8% of respondents during the last 12 months invested in the fixed assets of their enterprises. And in some regions, the figure exceeds 70%. In the opinion of 66.4% of the respondents, all entrepreneurs have the same opportunities for successful business. However, 33.6% hold the opposite viewpoint, that is, every third entrepreneur or farmer excludes the equality of opportunities for doing business. The survey has shown the availability of reserves for further improvement of the business environment in the country. Among them, respondents called the availability of loans, stable water, gas, electricity and heat supply, and tax reductions. 68.9% of entrepreneurs characterize the taxation system in Uzbekistan as “fairly simple” and “very simple”, 31.1% as “rather complicated” and “very complex”. In the opinion of 73.7% of the respondents, the tax system stimulates business structures to show all proceeds, 4.5% suggest it makes them hide incomes, and 21.8% refused to respond. The majority of business people (80.5%) positively assess the quality of banking services. Thus, 91.6% of entrepreneurs and farmers exclude the fact of extortion from banks in obtaining loans. At the same time, the study showed that banks are not interested in long-term lending to businesses, without which it is impossible to modernize production on the basis of high technologies and ensure the production of competitive products. The study showed that 43.2% of entrepreneurs and farmers encountered facts of corruption on the part of supervisory bodies.
BISHKEK (TCA) — Small and medium-sized private enterprises (SMEs) in Central Asia will benefit from a new Regional Small Business Programme (RSBP) launched in Almaty on January 30. The EU-funded project will be managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and will equip financial institutions in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan with new digital business tools for effective work with small businesses, the EBRD said. Continue reading
ASHGABAT (TCA) — As Turkmenistan suffers from decreasing state-budget revenues largely caused by low natural-gas prices and a drop in gas exports, contributions to the Pension Fund, which had previously been voluntary, have become mandatory for entrepreneurs starting from 1 January 2018, the Chronicles of Turkmenistan independent foreign-based news website reports. Continue reading
ASTANA (TCA) — The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan Atameken has launched the nationwide campaign "Atamekenym", aimed at developing the culture of charity and social responsibility in the country, the Chamber reported on its website. The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, which is carrying out the campaign, intends to update the discussion on the role of business, the manifestation of its social responsibility for the development of rural areas, and the provision of targeted charitable assistance. The National Chamber developed a number of proposals to support entrepreneurial initiatives in this direction. The first proposal is to register social problems. The register will allow Kazakhstanis who need support and help to leave an application online. Entrepreneurs will be able to respond to requests. The website will have a special button for feedback for those who leave the application, and for the entrepreneurs who want to provide support and assistance. The second proposal is strengthening business motivation through moral incentives. It is proposed to establish a state award "Paryz" for the promotion of charity, implementation of charity programs and social projects, social entrepreneurship, and introduction of social responsibility principles. Third, economic incentives for charity. Currently in Kazakhstan, certain tax incentives are used to motivate businesses to socially responsible activities, in accordance with the Tax Code. It is necessary to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of existing mechanisms for using benefits, as well as how charity affects the development of society. The campaign will become a platform where the business will be able to voice its proposals and recommendations on this issue. And the fourth is large-scale entrepreneurship training, with simultaneous growth of entrepreneurial consciousness. In 2017-2021, Atameken plans to train 15,000 unemployed and self-employed entrepreneurs, and at least 3,000 of them are expected to open their business.
