UNDP Uzbekistan Resident Representative
Consultant to the Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Chief Coordinator of the Human Capital Development Project Office
When Umida Karimova left her job as a custom tailor to start her own business in the Tashkent region, few could have predicted how far she would go. After joining the Women Entrepreneurs Support Programme (WESP), the sound of her single sewing machine soon gave way to the steady hum of thirty, and a thriving community of women working beside her, which she dreams to expand into hundreds.
Umida is part of a growing force transforming Uzbekistan’s economy: women entrepreneurs. Today, more than 2 million women across the country are running their own ventures – a sevenfold increase since 2020. Their businesses are creating jobs, driving innovation, and building stronger, more inclusive communities.
Behind these numbers lies a story of determination, reform, and a nationwide effort to ensure every woman with an idea has a chance to make it real.
Uzbekistan’s rapid rise in women’s entrepreneurship reflects both personal ambition and evolving institutional support. Many women, like Dildora Olimova from Fergana valley, who turned her home-based hobby into a prosperous agrobusiness, represent the quiet revolution happening in households and workshops across the country.
Still, the path is far from easy. Women remain underrepresented among formal business owners and managers. Limited access to finance and property, coupled with unequal caregiving responsibilities, continue to shape daily realities. A recent UNDP survey revealed that nearly half of women entrepreneurs struggle to balance family duties with professional goals – a challenge that often outweighs even financial or legal constraints.
That’s where the Women’s Entrepreneurship Support Programme (WESP) – joint project implemented by Hamroh, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and UNDP Uzbekistan – steps in.
Founded in 2024, Hamroh serves as Uzbekistan’s leading national institution fully devoted to empowering and supporting women entrepreneurs.
True to its name – which means companion in Uzbek – Hamroh aims to accompany women on every step of their entrepreneurial journey. It helps them overcome systemic barriers, particularly in rural areas, by providing mentorship, training, and access to finance on favorable terms. Hamroh also offers free, high-level business consultations from top local and international experts.
Recognizing the momentum generated by national reforms, Hamroh expanded its impact by partnering with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – a global frontrunner in advancing women’s entrepreneurship – to launch the Women’s Entrepreneurship Support Programme (WESP).
UNDP’s experience in empowering women entrepreneurs spans continents. From Vietnam to Africa, one lesson stands out: when women gain financial independence, communities thrive. Globally, UNDP envisions that by 2030, the SDGs will guide companies and investors worldwide, mobilizing up to US$1 trillion in private capital and fostering inclusive, green economies. Between 2016 and 2023, UNDP implemented 801 projects in 170 countries promoting private sector development and structural transformation, with a total budget of US$3.4 billion. Now, that same momentum is reshaping Uzbekistan.
This international know-how is now being tailored to Uzbekistan’s needs. Through other programs such as the Aid for Trade initiative (2018 -2024), UNDP has supported more than 2,500 women entrepreneurs across Central Asia – helping create 1,000 new jobs and boost productivity by 20 percent. Many of these women, like Ruzigul Anorkulova from Namangan, have transformed traditional food processing into export-ready products, projecting new contracts with regional and European buyers.
“Women’s economic empowerment is central to inclusive growth and sustainable development,” said Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan. “Our joint model with Hamroh could be scaled up in countries across Central Asia.”
Across Uzbekistan, a quiet but powerful transformation is taking shape. Through the WESP women are turning their ideas into thriving businesses.
What sets WESP apart is its holistic approach: women don’t just receive training, they gain mentors, networks, and access to finance – the full toolkit for lasting success.
The Training of Trainers (ToT) initiative alone is building a new generation of local experts who are already passing their knowledge on to women in every region of the country. These WESP-trained trainers are now guiding others one-on-one, helping them sharpen business plans, manage finances, and grow with confidence.
Networking is another game-changer. In September, with support from Coca-Cola Uzbekistan, a group of WESP entrepreneurs showcased their products at the WorldFood Istanbul 2025 exhibition. For many, it was their first time connecting with international distributors and exploring export opportunities – proof that local ambition can go global.
A delegation of women entrepreneurs from WESP proudly represented Uzbekistan at the “Russian International Creative Seasons” international conference on creative economy, held on 8-9 October. WESP participants presented their products during the conference sessions, explored export opportunities and established new partnerships.
And then there’s finance – often the hardest barrier to overcome. In a country where many women still can’t inherit property or access credit easily, Hamroh’s tailored financial solutions, strengthened by free expert consulting that helps women use these resources strategically – have opened the doors to independence. For hundreds of women, that support has been the bridge between a dream and a real business.
Hamroh’s financing mechanism – the first of its kind in Central Asia – channels resources through major commercial banks to provide women with large loans at preferential rates and extended grace periods. This has already enabled hundreds of women to formalize their businesses, from handicrafts and tailoring to eco-friendly packaging and services.
Combined with Hamroh’s financial mechanism, WESP equips women with lifelong skills and business acumen – ensuring that every loan becomes an investment in sustainable growth.
Through Hamroh’s model, women entrepreneurs are offered:
Grants of up to UZS 50 million to 1,000 women mentors, each supporting at least five others in launching their own ventures;
Collateral-free loans of up to UZS 100 million for women with strong credit histories.
“The loan helped me buy modern equipment, but the real value was in the training,” added Aziza Mirzanazarova from Namangan region, who owns a fruit garden. “Now I can manage accounts, attract clients, and even teach others to do the same.”
In Karakalpakstan, Gulnar Akilbekova began her business with just three kilograms of flour and a handful of hope, baking traditional bread for neighbours. With WESP’s support, she has expanded her bakery and now mentors others to do the same.
“Never stop striving,” she says. “Challenges are part of the journey – stay focused and keep going.”
Gulnar Akilbekova’s story echoes that of thousands of women across the country — women who no longer wait for opportunities but create them. Similar success stories are emerging across the region, where entrepreneurship-focused initiatives in Central Asia have shown the greatest impact when paired with access to markets and supportive social measures: In Tajikistan, the Get Ahead programme trained 100 women in business planning, marketing, and pricing, while in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, cross-border trader training has helped women meet international quality standards through GLOBAL G.A.P. certification.
With continued investment, collaboration, and support, Uzbekistan’s bold bet on women entrepreneurs is not just transforming individual lives – it’s redefining the nation’s economic future. When women rise, they lift the nation with them – and Uzbekistan is proving it.
United Nations
Development Programme
© United Nations Development Programme
