Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The role of women in trade is of high importance in today’s realities. Changing the perception of women in trade is not enough, it requires action.

On the sidelines of the Regional Meeting of National Trade Facilitation Committees (NTFTC), on  9 November 2023, the regional project “Trade Facilitation in Central Asia”, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development ( BMZ), organized the second “Central Asia Conference on Networking and Leadership for Women in Trade” in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The event was attended by women representatives of the ministries of trade, customs service, veterinary service, as well as the private sector from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The conference aimed to strengthen the role of women in trade and trade facilitation, improve their leadership skills, and create opportunities to develop their digital skills.

Ms. Felicitas Siek, Manager of the Trade Facilitation in Central Asia project implemented by GIZ, emphasized: “It is important for GIZ to follow the stated goal of gender development arising from the Sustainable Development Goals, and we, as the Trade Facilitation in Central Asia project, we strive to contribute to supporting women in Central Asia in their career development in border agencies, ministries and institutions related to trade facilitation, and to support all reforms taking into account the interests of women.

Nowadays, it is important for women to improve their digital skills as digitalization is the future and women must know how to use data and all the necessary digital tools to develop their careers and increase their understanding of their role.”

Participants also discussed the role of women in trade, what is needed for more women to play a leadership role in trade, and shared their success stories in their work and business.

Umida Pirmukhamedova, Chief Inspector of the Risk Targeting and Monitoring Department of the Customs Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the Women’s Council of the Customs Committee: “The issue of women in trade is the most pressing. The Customs Committee cooperates with GIZ and other organizations through training to increase their awareness of gender issues, as well as to improve their skills. This helps in identifying new areas where we can develop and collaborate. The result is the creation of roadmaps that further help create an enabling business environment for women entrepreneurs.”

Participants also practiced ways to overcome personal barriers to business growth and business negotiations.

Thanks to the organization of the Central Asian Networking and Leadership Conferences for Women in Trade, it was noted that the number of women participants in the Regional Meetings of National Trade Facilitation Committees increased from 30% in 2019 to 50% in 2023.