Ready4trade project is wrapping up Export Management Coaching Initiative in Turkmenistan

The event showcased project results and lessons learned from the Export Management Coaching Initiative (EMCI) in Turkmenistan to key local partners. Representatives of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Turkmenistan, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as the Ready4Trade project team from the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Turkmenistan, were in attendance - in total, around 70 participants.

Implementation of this initiative was possible thanks to funding from the EU, implementation by the ITC and close cooperation with the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan – the national institutional partner for the project.

Ms. Renata Wrobel, First Counsellor, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the EU to Turkmenistan: “The export coaching initiative is a big support to local MSMEs and it’s obvious that ITC Turkmenistan team has successfully completed it. There are around 10 women-led MSMEs in Turkmenistan that have passed coaching sessions – this is very important for the EU in order to ensure gender equality in an inclusive environment. It is also important for the EU that there are enterprises among the Turkmen SMEs which contribute to environmental protection by producing eco-friendly products, such as re-usable calico bags and the goods from recycled paper.”

The wrap-up event presented the results of the coaching missions delivered to about 40 Turkmen MSMEs throughout 2021. The EMCI, which was launched in early 2021, has been offering practical and action-oriented advisory services to businesses through the on-the-job coaching delivered by the local experts. These local experts have extensive experience in the fields of import/export, certification, freight forwarding and logistics.

The participants had an opportunity to articulate their observations and recommendations regarding the development of the Export Management Coaching Initiative in Turkmenistan and options available to ensure project sustainability for the future. MSMEs were able to share their experiences, reflecting upon the changes they have made to their export operations over the past few months. During the event, the Ready4Trade team shared success stories and best practices covering a few of companies that participated in the program. A small exhibition was also held to showcase the assortment of goods produced by the Turkmen companies for local and international markets. At the end of the event, the beneficiary MSMEs were awarded certificates of completion for their training.

“Today, getting access to international markets is not only a nice opportunity to generate more revenue and scale up product sales. For many SMEs that think of their future, it becomes a matter of success and even survival in the long run. Geographic expansion of business operations has developed into a global trend over the past few decades, mandated by the contemporary economic environment and challenges. I hope that our Export Management Coaching Initiative succeeded in supporting local SMEs in the accomplishment of their objectives to access markets beyond Turkmenistan and particularly in solving practical day-to-day issues of export operations. I would like to thank all the enterprises that participated in EMCI for their active engagement and wish them great success in the future”, said Sanjar Hudaynazarov, lead coach of ITC Turkmenistan.

Stay connected: #Ready4Trade #CentralAsia

The Ready4Trade Central Asia project is a joint initiative of the European Union and the International Trade Centre. Its aim is to contribute to the overall sustainable and inclusive economic development of Central Asia by boosting intra-regional and international trade in 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 project operates in 5 countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. For more information: intracen.org/Ready4Trade