Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing fresh funds and creating new growth opportunities for women-owned and managed businesses in Uzbekistan by offering a loan of up to US$6 million (€ 5.5 million equivalent) to Uzbek Leasing International (Uzbek Leasing). 

The loan to Uzbek Leasing is extended under the EBRD’s Central Asian Women in Business  programme. It is supported by grant funding from the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative and designed to help promote women’s entrepreneurship and business activity by assisting with access to finance, know-how and technical advice.

Further support for women entrepreneurs is crucial for Uzbekistan, which is aiming to increase the percentage of small and medium-sized businesses owned and run by women, from the current 25 per cent to 40 per cent, in line with the country’s 2030 strategy for gender equality.

Uzbekistan is the leading recipient of EBRD funding in Central Asia for the fourth year in row. To date, the Bank has invested around €4.36 billion in 147 projects across the country, with most of those funds supporting private entrepreneurship.