Central Asia Invest

Boosting Small Business Competitiveness

Past Projects

This page provides information on the grantees selected for the previous phase of CAI that had ended in December 2019.

AGROCOMP – Value chain competitiveness of agro-business and food processing SMEs through sustainable development and eco-innovation in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan implemented by FORMAPER

The project is being carried out in six separate regions spread across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. FORMAPER has own projects in Italy, of which it draws experiences in providing its services. The project thus promotes the sustainable and eco-innovative production of food processing enterprises. This shall in turn foster the value chain competitiveness of the involved SMEs. The services provided are amongst others, project cycle management including monitoring and evaluation of the single projects; training; as well as gender awareness classes, accommodating psychological counselling for women would-be entrepreneurs from rural areas.

Objective:

Promote sustainable production and eco-innovative practices of agro-business and food processing sectors in 6 target regions of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

BIOs:

  • Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan – CCIU (Tashkent, Namangan & Karakalpakstan Regional Branches)
  • Association of Legal Entities (ALE) “Association of commercial and industrial enterprises” (ACIE) of Almaty
  • Chamber of Commerce of Karaganda Region
  • Association of business women of Zhambyl Region (Taraz)

Key achievements:

  • Two Professional Networks of Expertise involving 79 trained representatives of various BIOs (48 in UZ; 31 in KZ)
  • 251 BIOs’ representatives (125 women, 126 men) trained in various subjects of business development, internationalization, value chain competitiveness,  food safety, quality, EU standards, green financing, sustainable development: (22 seminars in 90 days, 720 training hours, 509 presences)
  • 119 BIOs’ representatives have successfully completed the EU Benchmarking and Networking Programmes in Italy
  • Pilot actions of training & consultancy advice for 420 entrepreneurs launched in Kazakhstan in October 2019

CANDY IV – Advanced Support Programme to Central Asian Business Intermediary Organisations – Specialised and Integrated Services for Export-Oriented Food Processing SMEs implemented by Hilfswerk International

Objective:

  • To contribute substantially to promoting the growth and expansion of export-oriented SMEs, thus fostering the integration of CA countries into the global economy and trade system
  • Reinforced role of BIOs in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan as service providers for fruit and vegetable processing SMEs
  • Enhanced BIO’s influence on economic policies and business regulations in the food sector, as well as representation of sector interests

BIOs:

  • Association of Scientific and Technical Intelligentsia (ASTI)
  • Training & Extension System Centre (TES) 
  • Association of Fruit and Vegetable Enterprises (AFVE) 
  • AgroLead
  • National Association of Small and Medium Business of the Republic of Tajikistan (NASMB) 
  • Neksigol Mushovir, Public Organization Tajikistan (PO)
  • Markazi Idorakunii Sifat, Public Consulting Organization (MIS) 

Key achievements:

  • Central Asian Regional Working Group for Promotion of Quality and Commercial Standards of Agricultural Produce in Central Asia is founded (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan) (developed & adapted or new adopted  international commercial standards, developed explanatory publications with international status)
  • Introduced Global GAP, Organic and Fair Trade in two farmer cooperatives in TJK and KGZ
  • Signed MoU between State Agencies (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan) for co-operation in promotion quality and safety standards in the Central Asia
  • Two national knowledge alliances, incl. private sector, BIOs, universities, research institutes, established in KGZ and TJK

Networking Intermediaries & Competitive Enterprises in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (NICE-TAK) implemented by SEQUA

NICE-TAK promotes networking intermediaries and competitive enterprises, and therefore has a number of BIOs involved to advance the development of the private sector on both the macro and meso-levels in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. SEQUA supports the chosen BIOs in developing common platforms and networks with public authorities to establish policies in their favour. In addition, the BIOs in both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan can exchange good practices and network to enhance their capacities and develop income-generating tools. It is thus a demand-driven process aiming to respond to the needs of the involved BIOs.

Objectives:

  • NICE-TAK overall objective is to promote private sector development in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The project will pursue this aim by means of assisting local BIOs to develop their capacities of supporting the development of SMEs in three key areas: advocacy, services in demand and competitiveness on the domestic and international markets
  • Develop BIOs capacity of researching their members’ needs and of outlining consistent advocacy strategies aimed at improving the environment for SMEs
  • Set up and run a BIO Academy that offers training workshops, seminars and networking opportunities for BIO staff in 4 locations, 2 in each country
  • Organize annual handicraft fairs in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and support participation of SMEs and BIOs in international fairs, aimed at diversifying market channels
  • Prepare a handicraft catalogue and develop new collections and designs, aimed at improving products in this industry

BIOs:

Union of Craftsmen of Tajikistan (UCT); National Association of Small and Medium Businesses; National Association of Business Women in Tajikistan; Bishkek Business Club

Key achievements:

  • 254 staff from 101 BIOs trained; 196 staff, from 61 BIOs recipients of TA interventions, involved in the actions
  • 10 BIOs have launched new business services, based on cluster analysis, good cooperation and networking among BIOs
  • 94 bottlenecks identified in the craft industry; of 57 the expected impact assessed, finally endorsed, and the related interventions funded

OECD Policy Component of the Central Asia Invest Programme

The Central Asia Phase III project supports governments in Central Asia to design, implement and monitor policies to enhance competitiveness. In line with this, the Eurasia Competitiveness Roundtable serves as a platform for policy dialogue. Specifically, OECD members and Eurasia partner countries jointly conduct peer reviews and monitor the implementation of competitiveness reforms at the country level. In detail, the OECD offers: the assessment and recommendations of selected competitiveness policies; the creation of an in-country public-private consultative mechanism (working groups will be created in Uzbekistan and Mongolia); and country-specific workshops to prepare for peer review and monitoring.

Objectives:

  • Help create the conditions for sustained economic growth and investment in Central Asia
  • Support the process of policy reform and stimulate regional exchanges on competitiveness reforms in Central Asia and between Central Asian countries, at the policy level

Key achievements

  • Development of tailored policy recommendations to Central Asia governments, with country-specific peer reviews and monitoring of reforms:
    • 2018-19: Peer Review of Afghanistan: Boosting private sector development and entrepreneurship policies
    • 2018: Enhancing Competitiveness in Central Asia report (regional level)
    • 2017: Peer review of Uzbekistan: Boosting SME Internationalisation in Uzbekistan through better export promotion policies
    • 2016: Peer review of Mongolia: Enhancing access to finance for MSMEs
  • Strategies, laws and reforms passed by governments – or under development
    • Examples: SME law in Mongolia, SME Strategy in Afghanistan, Investment Promotion Agency and Warehouse receipt law in Kyrgyzstan
  • Capacity-building of policy makers: policy seminars, expert and peers’ missions to Central Asia countries, study visits to OECD member countries
    • Study visits of Afghanistan to Georgia; Mongolia to Bpifrance and the OECD
  • Fostering co-operation and dialogue in Central Asia and beyond:
    • Ministerial Competitiveness Roundtable as part of OECD Eurasia Week

PRO HOUSE – Professional Housing Management in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan implemented by Housing Initiative for Eastern Europe

PROHOUSE is carried out in both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The overall goal of the project is to strengthen companies which are based in the housing sector of the two countries. The focus is thus to exchange good practices in the areas of housing management and energy efficient refurbishment. To improve this process all stakeholders transfer knowledge and experiences in the sector. Successful project ideas and results, also through this exchange, may be disseminated and promoted.

Objectives:

  • to improve professionalism
  • to support the participation of BIOs in the political dialog
  • to support the implementation of energy-efficient restoration
  • strengthening relations and networks

BIOs:

  • National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic Kazakhstan Atameken
  • Shanyrak Association of management entities, services and energy service in housing sector
  • Association of the Organizations of Professionally Managing and Serving Housing Funds in Uzbekistan

Strengthening rural and community tourism Business Intermediary Organisations for Inclusive Economic Development in Central Asia implemented by ECEAT

The Strengthening rural and community tourism Business Intermediary Organisations for Inclusive Economic Development in Central Asia is implemented by ECEAT, a Dutch-based organisation concentrating on sustainable rural tourism. The project sustains rural and community based tourism organisations to diversify the economic development in Central Asia. This is further shown by the project’s geographic presence, in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The organisation thus makes use of its expertise to promote capacity building in rural community tourism in the BIOs of Central Asia. With its wide geographic presence, national and regional cooperation improves and best practice may be exchanged. Additionally linkages between Central Asian and European Union BIOs occur, which simultaneously benefits Central Asian SME’s.

BIOs:

  • Association of Private Tourism Agencies of Uzbekistan (APTA Uzbekistan)
  • Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan (CCIU)
  • Tajik Association for Promotion of Tourism Development
  • The Kyrgyz Community Based Tourism Association “Hospitality Kyrgyzstan”
  • Ule Kazakhstan Tourist Association

Objectives:

  • Promote the involvement of local communities in tourism
  • Diversify the Central Asian tourism product: new regions, new (community) experiences
  • Promote linkages between protected areas, communities and the international market
  • Integrate global sustainability standards among Central Asian travel products
  • Promote Central Asian and EU – Central Asian co-operation  and partnerships

Key achievements:

  • Established 150 Community Based Tourism (CBT) MSME’s in UZ, KZ, KG & TJ
  • Trained 600+ MSME’s (guest house managers and other service providers)
  • Established national Uzbek and Kazakh CBT Marketing Association
  • Supported an enabling policy environment for community tourism in UZ and KZ
  • Developed and implement quality and sustainable tourism standards

Strengthening Transport and logistics BIOs in Central Asia implemented by CEED

The Strengthening Transport and Logistics BIOs in Central Asia Project, implemented by CEED in both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, aims to support and train local Uzbek and Turkmen BIOs and SMEs. The main purpose of the project is to aid the BIOs and SMEs in the logistics of their supply chain, in creating jobs and training staff, storing and distributing goods. This occurs through the institutional support of business associations that engage in related fields and can thus support in increasing the competitiveness of the selected BIOs. The ultimate goal is to stimulate SME growth and expand exports in Central Asia through providing trade related and investment promoting technical assistance.

BIOs:

  • Centre for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development – Bulgaria
  • Turkmen Association of International Road Carriers
  • Association of Stevedore Companies of Latvia
  • Association for Business Logistics Development
  • Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan

Key achievements:

  • Enhanced regional economic integration of Central Asia transport and logistics sector and strengthening the trade relations with EU
  • Provided trade-related and investment promotion technical assistance to Central Asian transport and logistics BIOs
  • Improved the managerial and entrepreneurial skills of targeted SMEs working in the transport and logistics sector
  • Increased membership for participating BIOs – new SMEs joining business associations