The forum was organized by the Fund Forum and “Kelajak ovozi” (Voice of the future) Youth Initiative Center with assistance from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, the National Association of Microfinance Organizations and Credit Unions (NAMOCU), the British Council in Uzbekistan and the Council of Credit Union Federation, and is seen as a critical effort to support the youth in their endeavors to engage in entrepreneurship and eventually scale its heights.

Thomas Kunze, Konrad Adenauer Foundation regional representative for Central Asia:

“I’m happy to be attending this forum. It’s good to see that these young people are resolved to contribute to the development of their county and are ready to run their own business,” says Thomas Kunze, Konrad Adenauer Foundation regional representative for Central Asia. “Economy is the main pillar of a country’s development. The more attention it receives the better it develops. Uzbekistan has all the prerequisites for that. The young generation should understand that, and looking at these entrepreneurs I can see they exude confidence and enthusiasm. As this is the Year of Small Business and Private Entrepreneurship, this sort of event is very opportune. I’m convinced that those who have set themselves serious business-related goals will benefit significantly from this event.”

The first part of the one-day event offered a series of training sessions led by finance specialists. The “Crediting” section provided the participants with detailed and useful information about crediting opportunities in Uzbekistan. During “Taxation” section the audience was introduced to the rules and crediting-related practice in Uzbekistan from the vantage point of economists and businessmen. Financial Education section gave saw the audience look into the state and opportunities of financial education in Uzbekistan both for the broad public and specialists.

The Forum was attended by representatives of the business community, professors, ministers, academicians, corresponding members of academies, heads of leading Uzbek banks, representatives of governmental and international organizations, financial institutions and NGOs, journalists as well as professionals from the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and India.

The second part of the forum served as a platform for youngsters to express their views and opinions, with professionals and experts delivering speeches and providing useful information.

High-profile guests attending the event included Kazuhiko Higuchi, ADB Country Director; Alisher Shaikhov, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan; A. Aripov, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan; A. Haitov, Minister of Labor and Social Maintenance; Sh. Haidarov, Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan; Deputy Chairman of the Tax Committee of Uzbekistan; E. Gadoyev, rector of the Tax Academy; and J. Saifiddinov, Chairman of Microcreditbank among others. Speaking at the forum, these professionals and experts provided an authentic and detailed picture of the finance and employment situation and specialist training as well as the tax climate in Uzbekistan. Their speeches provided valuable information that the audience and alumni of the Young Entrepreneurs School may rely on in making decisions related to their business plans and boosting their business.

The professional’s speeches were followed by those of representatives and alumni of the Young Entrepreneurs School who provided a report on their activities and achievements. The general presentation and report on the activities of the School was given by Tursunhoja Yunushojayev, an alumnus. Those gathered also learned of the activities of the Youth Employment Center, with a presentation done by Center Coordinator Gulchekhra Jurayeva. The School staff was represented by trainer Alisher Islamov.

So far, 130 young men and girls have participated in the Young Entrepreneurs Support Program. 32% of this number have set up their own business, 14% have become business trainers, 19% have been hired by leading companies in the country and 11% are currently having their business entities registered. During the Youth Forum held on November 19, 2010 in Tashkent, ten winners were awarded grants to the tune of 10 million soums. Three of the winners got an opportunity to do an internship abroad. A Business Club operates under the program with the aim of helping set up contacts among budding businessmen.

The forum also included a ceremony to award the winners of the project “Boosting the social status of women through providing assistance in the realization of innovative business ideas”, which was organized by the Women’s Council, Mehr Nuri and NAMOCU. Under the project 28 women from Uzbekistan regions were given certificates entitling them to 182.7 mln soums worth of microcredits.

The third, final, part of the event featured concluding speeches. More specifically, Artyom Rasulov, an alumnus of the YES, who is currently director of his own firm, told those gathered about how the School and the knowledge he gained helped him launch and develop his business.

“In March last year the Fund Forum and Nagoya University initialed a memorandum,” says Shamota Yosuki, a professor at Nagoya University (Japan) and trainer at Young Entrepreneurs School. We have been in close collaboration since the document was signed. A Japanese Law Center was set up recently and youths from Uzbekistan have participated in it as well. We also organize courses to study business in Japan. The Uzbek youth has a good potential. And it’s amazing that the Fund Forum helps young aspiring entrepreneurs.”

The event concluded with an address by Professor Gulnara Karimova, the chairperson of the Fund Forum’s Board of Trustees, who summarized the forum. Karimova and representatives of the banking sphere handed 20 mln soums worth of grants to 20 alumni of the Young Entrepreneurs School.

“This forum is important because it has brought together people interested in entrepreneurship,” said Jamila Gafurova, deputy director of the British council in Uzbekistan. “Here we have seen officials of ministries, banks, international organizations and financial institutions share their experience with the youth. This sort of exchange is crucial for budding entrepreneurs, and it will definitely produce positive results.”

“This kind of events should be organized as often as possible,” noted Rainer Schliwa of GTZ (German Society for Technical Cooperation). “And it is very important to lend support to young entrepreneurs. We can see so many specialists and professionals here and this is an excellent opportunity for the youth to swap opinions, get advice and set up contacts. I think this sort of training should be continued and must be supported by governmental and non-governmental organizations. And Uzbekistan has pre-conditions for that.”

“Eight years ago I set up “Honzoda” Design School in Namangan,” says Umida Yunusova, an alumna of the Young Entrepreneurs School. “I received training at the winter school of young entrepreneurs and I’m very happy that I gained the necessary knowledge which will help me run my business successfully. It’s amazing that we are supported by organizations such as the Fund Forum.”

According to another alumnus of the Young Entrepreneurs School, Viktor Yakovlev from Navoi, the school has been a mine of essential information related to running a business. “In 2010, I was able to open a model agency in my hometown of Navoi,” he says. “Our friendly team that is working to raise the agency’s profile has many ideas and projects. It’s amazing that my plans are coming to fruition and that the Fund Forum is prepared to provide support. I am determined to do my utmost to make sure that our agency flourishes and our plans continue to come to fruition.”