One of such bright examples is the creation of the Center of Women’s Workmanship in Uychi district of Namangan region. In the Center, girls and women are engaged in traditional embroidery with involvement of outworkers.

Read what Rislikhon Dzhuraeva shares with us - I had an idea to create a center that would make good-quality traditional coats, belts and others, but working as a teacher in school, I hadn’t time, partners and means to realize this intention. Nevertheless, since 1993 I’ve been engaged in small production of products as an individual entrepreneur.

I was glad to know in the beginning of this year about the new opportunities provided by the UNDP to entrepreneurs in Namangan region. Together with my four colleagues I applied to the UNDP with a project on unification of craftswomen to expand and improve the quality of traditional products, Rislikhon told us.

Rislikhon was born in 1956 in Namangan region in the family of craftsmen. Prior to retiring on a pension according to age requirement, she had worked in school as a physics teacher. She has brought up and educated four children. Today she is the head of the Center for Developing Handicraft and Boosting Trade.

‘UNDP has not only supported our idea, but also rendered us moral and material support. Thus, we have founded the Center for Developing Handicraft and Boosting Trade. To make our products distinguishing, we have even developed our own logo’ - noted Rislikhon, as the Center Director.

To improve the quality of products UNDP has purchased sewing and embroidery equipment, organized trainings to teach fine needlework. The Center for the first time participated with its products in Intercontinental Hotel (Tashkent) in May and the second time – in Dedeman Silk Road Hotel (Tashkent) in July.

To boost trade UNDP has financed the participation of craftswomen in two specialized fairs Art Bazaar in Tashkent. The exhibition was attended by more than 200 craftsmen – masters of national crafts and handicrafts. Three craftswomen of the Center presented 80 items at the exposition. There were sold 20 items of five craftswomen, and the rest products were given to sale in hotel shops and Hastimam complex. No craftswoman had sold before products outside her village.

From the first days of the Center’s work we started cooperation with khokimiyat (local administration), Makhalla foundation and the Society of Disabled People. Today our Center employs 10 women with disabilities. The products made by their hands are works of art. But we try to make our products taking into account modern requirements. In other words – all our products are sold like hot cakes. Our girls sew their works on traditional local fabric – adras. Therefore foreign guests are very interested in these items. In particular, the bags made by Zukhra from Uychi district, who is a person with childhood disability, were bought by tourists from Japan and Korea, Rislikhon said.

The Center for Developing Handicraft and Boosting Trade employs today 20 craftswomen. Moreover, more than 10 girls are working at home, selling their products via the Center on the basis of bilateral contracts.

We aspire to create all favorable conditions for our craftswomen working in the Center. Necessary raw materials are supplied in time to provide continuous production. The craftswomen working at home had a problem to sell ready products. Now we help them through conclusion of contracts. After we increase volumes in the future, the number of workers in the Center will reach 30. Besides, we are planning to increase the number of outworkers to 100, Rislikhon emphasized.

If we had produced items on our sewing machines, then now thanks to the joint project of the UNDP and the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade we have been provided with modern equipment. We will assemble and install the facilities soon. And our products will occupy their worthy place not only in the domestic market, but also abroad, Rislikhon concluded.