“Women’s Leadership in Small and Medium Enterprise” Program is launched in Kyrgyzstan

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) together with “Bai-Tushum” Banking Group and ACDI/VOCA announce the launch of a three year program titled “Women’s Leadership in Small and Medium Enterprise”. The Program is designed for women entrepreneurs for the purposes of developing their business and supporting the growth of enterprises managed by women through training and technical assistance.

The program will deliver trainings to 750 women entrepreneurs from across Kyrgyzstan, engaged into textile and apparel manufacturing, agricultural processing and tourism business.

“The Program renders real assistance to women entrepreneurs in Kyrgyzstan to build efficient business communications, seek technical assistance, as well as access training on entrepreneurship basics in such key areas as: tax laws, business planning, business management and development, strategic management, human resources management and marketing”, – notes Gulnara Shamshieva, the General Manager of “Bai-Tushum and Partners” MFB CJSC.

This program is one of many projects, implemented with the support of American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Starting from 1992, the Agency supports the implementation of reforms in health, education, economy and democratic institutions development. For other details on USAID programs please see www.usaid.gov

The program has the following eligibility criteria:

• Women entrepreneurs/managers, who work in private sector for at least 1 year;

• Private business must be in one of the following sectors: garment manufacturing, tourism and agricultural processing;

• Organization must have at least one hired employee other than family members (spouses, children, siblings and parents).

The number of participants in the program is limited.

Application form may be downloaded here

Please address all questions to:

Chokmorova str. 240, 5 floor,

720017, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

Tel.: +996 (770)874000,  (770) 964000

E-mail: aisulu.meimankanova@wlsme.kg , cholpon.asakeeva@wlsme.kg,  info@wlsme.kg

www.wlsme.kg,  www.facebook.com/wlsme.kyrgyzstan

Reference information:

“Bai-Tushum and Partners” Banking Group includes “Bai-Tushum” Financial Fund Microcredit Agency and “Bai-Tushum and Partners” Microfinance Bank CJSC.

“Bai-Tushum and Partners” was established in 2000 by an American International Development Organization ACDI/VOCA. On November 13, 2012 “Bai-Tushum and Partners” became the first microfinance institution in Central Asia to be issued a full banking license of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic. 12 years of operation resulted in the organization becoming one of the largest microfinance institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic with total assets of USD 100 mln. Today “Bai-Tushum and Partners” Microfinance Bank is among the six largest banks in the Kyrgyz Republic, servicing nearly 30 thousand clients. For additional information please see: www.baitushum.kg

ACDI/VOCA is a private nonprofit organization, established in 1963, carrying out its activities in 145 countries worldwide, with a purpose of stimulating global economic growth, increasing life quality and wellbeing of population in low-income countries and developing democracies.

ACDI/VOCA commenced its operations by helping corporate businesses to develop. Since then the organization remains community-oriented. Continuing its activities directly with common community members for the purposes of increasing population’s income and improving food safety, it also develops and implements diversified economic development projects, distinguished by a large scale and high complexity level. ACDI/VOCA advises managers, helping them moving towards market economy and democracy, and gives an opportunity to organizations, whether enterprises, financial institutions, cooperatives or associations, to support the management of their activities and their funding. For additional information please see: http://www.acdivoca.org