During three regional events, the International Trade Centre (ITC) demonstrated the results of its European Union-funded Ready4Trade Central Asia project, highlighting the continuous efforts for intraregional and international trade in five Central Asia countries. They focused on: The efforts in transparent cross-border trade and removing regulatory and procedural barriers. The development of a Cross-Border Management Curriculum to strengthen business’ compliance with cross-border formalities. The results and success factors of the gender-responsive trade facilitation initiative and the way forward to ensure sustainable progress. The first regional event allowed Central Asia policymakers and business representatives to discuss opportunities offered by the launch of the Info Trade Central Asia Gateway The Central Asia Gateway aggregates the information from each national Trade Facilitation Portal in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan and gives operators easy access to product-specific information on cross-border trade formalities. The platform leverages the power of all national portals across Central Asia to help connect the region to international markets. Developed with ITC’s and the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s technical support, trade facilitation portals were implemented in 30 countries around the world, contributing to achieving the goal of trade facilitation embedded in Article 1.2 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.   In Kazakhstan, the Portal already reduced the time and cost of doing trade across borders. Since its launch on 4 July 2022, the platform (developed by QazTrade Center for Trade Policy Development JSC under the Ministry of Trade and Integration) has so far serviced more than 5,000 users with its audience rapidly expanding. The second regional event allowed ITC partners to connect and reflect on the Cross-Border Management Curriculum in the region. To promote regional and international trade, ITC designed and delivered free courses for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in each country. Over 4,500 SME representatives benefited from both online and in-person learning, covering procedural and regulatory cross-border requirements. These courses form a complete and up-to-date Cross-Border Trade Management Curriculum and are designed for future exporters and company executives to improve their skills. Courses range from international trade rules to export procedures, transit routes, quality and compliance standards, as well as specific requirements of the European Union market. The third regional event allowed Women Business and Customs Broker Associations as well as government and other private sector representatives to take stock of the achievements of Gender Responsive Trade Facilitation initiative, to pave the way for the future. To understand the constraints that women face when conducting cross-border trade and provide tangible solutions, ITC conducted a survey with more than 1,500 women across five countries in Central Asia. More than 600 border officials were trained on how to develop fair, ethical trade facilitation practices for creating a gender responsive border environment, while more than 350 women entrepreneurs improved their understanding of customs legislation and international regulatory frameworks, specifics of negotiations with customs brokers, as well as rules, rights and obligations while crossing the border. Youri Sakskevitch, Programme Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan, said leading up to the events: “The launch of the Info Trade Central Asia Gateway is an important milestone for the whole Central Asian region. It is also in line with the EU’s plan to support smart investments in quality infrastructure. The second initiative – the Cross-Border Management Curriculum – is key to unlocking the potential of the Central Asian private sector and moving towards export diversification.” “Transparency in cross-border trade and private-sector capacity are both crucial for international trade,” explained Pierre Bonthonneau, Senior Trade Facilitation Advisor at the International Trade Centre. “The Central Asia Gateway and Regional Export Management Curriculum of the Ready4Trade Central Asia project and its partners provide a handy response to the needs of the private sector, in particular of small businesses.” Nurlan Kulbatyrov, Deputy Director at the JSC “Center for Trade Policy Development” QazTrade said: “The QazTrade Academy is a unique platform that allows aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs and exporters to better understand the rules of international trade and their practical application to develop their businesses and enter new markets. In turn, Kazakhstan's Trade Portal serves as an informational reference tool, where anyone can easily find step-by-step information on export, import and transit procedures for priority commodities for Kazakhstani business.” Kholbibi Eshonboboyeva, a young start-up owner commented on the project’s gender component, saying: “I am more confident in my abilities to trade internationally. I learned relevant rules and regulations, know my rights and how to act in unexpected situations at the border. The practical advice I received at the training was especially useful.” Ready4Trade Central Asia is a four-year EU-funded project implemented by the International Trade Centre in close collaboration with national partners, designed to contribute to the overall sustainable and inclusive economic development of Central Asia by boosting intra-regional and international trade in the countries of the region. Beneficiaries of the Ready4Trade Central Asia project include governments, small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular women-led enterprises, and business support organizations.

The UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (Regional Office for Central Asia – OHCHR/ROCA) has organized a workshop to enhance the capacity and knowledge of young people on human rights, including the right to participation, non-discrimination and the role of UN Human Rights Mechanisms (Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures, Universal Periodic Review). The training involved young leaders, students of the Turkmen State University, the Institute of International Relations, the International University for Humanities and Development as well as young SDG Ambassadors and alumni from the Preventive Diplomacy Academy of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA). The training provided them with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge in international relations through group discussions simulating activities of different UN committees and their interaction with Member States. "Knowledge of human rights helps young people to develop respect, and a sense of civic responsibility towards their peers, communities, and the planet. We leveraged all of these principles in our interactive exercises and simulations throughout the training” said Shukurgeldi Myradov, Coordinator of Young SDG Ambassadors in Turkmenistan. "I commend OHCHR/ROCA for organizing this crucial training for students and youth participating in Model UN, as it equips us with the knowledge necessary to advocate for human rights and make a positive impact on our communities and beyond". “An important aspect of the training was to educate participants on the concepts of participation in decision-making processes at various levels: in the local community, at the university, in youth organizations. This new knowledge will contribute to the further development of the leadership potential of young people,” said Iulia Votslava from OHCHR/ROCA. The workshop is organized as a preparation stage within the joint initiative “Turkmenistan-Ashgabat Model UN”, which will be held fall this year with support of OHCHR ROCA, UNODC, UNRCCA and USAID/Winrock project.

On May 3, 2023, the 2nd International Conference and Exhibition "International transport and transit corridors: interconnection and development - 2023" hosted a panel discussion titled "Transport as an enabler of sustainable economies, peace and stability: A youth perspective." The panel, which centered around the role of transport in promoting sustainable economies, peace and stability, featured the perspectives of Turkmen youth, namely young SDG Ambassadors, on the subject following the conceptual introductions made by Mr. Dmitry Mariyasin, UNECE Deputy Executive Secretary,  Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko, the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, Vepa Myalikgulyev, Country Manager of the USAID funded project. The panelists emphasized the critical role that transport plays in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 9, which aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. During the discussion, Mr. Shlapachenko emphasized the need for greater investment in sustainable transport infrastructure to support economic growth and social development. He also highlighted the importance of engaging young people in the decision-making process to ensure that their voices are heard and their perspectives are taken into account. Mr. Mariyasin stressed the need for international cooperation to improve transport connectivity and efficiency. He also highlighted the potential of emerging technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence to transform the transport sector and promote sustainable development. The SDG Ambassadors shared their experiences and insights on how young people can contribute to sustainable transport, climate change and promote peace and stability. They emphasized the importance of education and awareness-raising to encourage young people to engage with transport-related issues and advocate for sustainable solutions.

Merjen Saparmyradova graduated from the International Turkmen-Turkish University with a degree in software engineering and system administration. She believes that knowledge in technology and increased participation of women and girls in the development of digital solutions can play an important role in building a sustainable future. “Technology affects everyone's life in one way or another. Being a technical engineer means constantly acquiring new skills and expanding knowledge,” said Merjen. “My academic background in engineering and my rich IT experience empowers me to make an impact in my community through the implementation of innovative projects that help women and girls embrace technology”. Right now, Merjen is developing the "Sepgit" website, which will be featuring inspiring stories of women and girls informing the world about the achievements they made and challenges they face in the path of their development. “I hope that this initiative will build self-confidence in women and girls, motivate them to actively participate in all spheres of life,” Merjen said. “Sepgit focuses on promoting gender equality and human rights, which are key to building sustainable and just future for all”. Last year, Merjen initiated and successfully implemented the project "Launch Life" Coding Bootcamp, the first-ever free Bootcamp in Turkmenistan for women and girls established with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan. The main goal of this project is to help girls and women, especially from the most vulnerable groups, overcome socio-economic challenges by increasing their digital literacy and enhancing opportunities for their employment and career growth in technology. “Initiating the project, I strived to introduce women and girls to digital employment opportunities through training and development. My goal is to enable change through education to get more women into technology and strengthen and continue these important efforts in Turkmenistan,” noted Merjen. Launch Life Coding Bootcamp attendees, learned how to develop websites and mobile applications from scratch during the six-month long programme. Merjen acted as a director of the Bootcamp and hold sessions on coding and programming classes to improve technical skills of women and girls, which in the long term should ensure their financial stability and independence. As a result, 40% of Bootcamp participants started their careers at local IT companies, while about 30% went on to study in IT and started their technical experience by working as freelance developers. Last year, Launch Life Coding Bootcamp attendees became the participants of Turkmenistan’s first ever Women’s Hackathon themed “DigiWomen STRIVE”, which provided a platform for about 35 women and girls to work together to create tech-driven projects that generate innovative ideas and digital solutions. During a two-day digital marathon, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly with the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan, nine teams focused on web and application development addressing issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment through increasing employment and learning opportunities.  In line with the UNDP mandate on gender equality the “DigiWomen STRIVE” Hackathon aimed to empower women and girls with digital skills, provide a platform to create innovative ideas and showcase their newfound technical talents, as well as encourage more women developers to pursue careers in IT. “This event was a great experience for me. It showed that my small steps can lead to success and the realization of my goals. It gave me the belief that I am doing something very important,” said Merjen with a proud smile on her face, demonstrating a sense of deep pleasure derived from the impactful results of her significant projects. “As we continue to support girls and women in STEM in our community, we must understand that they need support to make a difference. They need mentors, leaders, influencers, and role models to create a supportive environment where every woman and every girl will feel empowered to break stereotypes and find a place in a STEM career”. In implementing solutions that work for both women and men, Merjen often uses the STEM4All platform, initiated by the UNDP/UNICEF on a global level to promote women and girls, share knowledge, raise awareness, and break gender stereotypes in STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The platform helps accelerate gender equality and the representation of women and girls in STEM in the countries of Europe and Central Asia removing underlying barriers that impede women and girls from pursuing professions that were traditionally considered the domain of men. “I find this resource very helpful. This is a great opportunity to learn from the experience of other countries and see how women and girls around the world challenge gender stereotypes and make a significant contribution to innovation and development,” said Merjen highlighting the vital importance of this joint initiative aimed at ensuring that all people harness the power of digital technology. Current trends within the overall effort to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment in STEM include the desire of society to call for effective action to achieve impressive results. However, Merjen doesn't just call on everyone to help women and girls develop in areas that are usually dominated by men, but she acts decisively and persistently to achieve visible results. Merjen's work has an impact on girls' lives, significantly affecting their future and increases chances for unlocking their full potential for the benefit of the whole society. She is among women champions standing up at the forefront of efforts to ensure a rights-based and gender-responsive approach to innovation and technology and build a more equal digital age. The results of Merjen’s impressive work contribute to thwarting stereotypes that hinder women’s progress. Her story inspires others and gives a hope for a more innovative, inclusive, and just digital future for all, the future where digital gender divide will be bridged, and no one will be left behind.