Ready4Trade Central Asia has officially launched its export coaching initiative in Turkmenistan to boost the export potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Local experts tutored by ITC late last year though a 'Training-of-Trainers' (ToT) have now completed their first coaching mission for the export-oriented enterprises selected to participate in the initiative.
With the ToT, local coaches had honed their knowledge on packaging and labelling of goods, certifications, customs procedures, international transport and export planning, which they now passed on to an array of Turkmen SMEs.
'The support of Ready4Trade for small and medium-sized businesses like ours is key to help us grow', noted Batyr Tanrygulyev, director of "Halk Hazyna", one of the participating SMEs, which produces packaging for dairy products. Though relatively young, the company is already working with leading Turkmen producers.
'My main objective was to help local SMEs follow the export-related procedures, including but not limited to certification, customs clearance and export planning, as well as to share my own experience in exporting goods from Turkmenistan.
I am so glad I was able to support "Halk Hazyna" in exporting their goods for the first time through this coaching mission.We will continue to monitor with interest the results of our efforts', noted Ms.
Gozel Akeyeva, local ITC coach.
Increasing Turkmenistan's export potential by improving the capacities of Turkmen SMEs to comply with trade-related formalities is crucial for its economic growth. This coaching mission actually helped Halk Hazyna acquire the right tools to benefit from a new export outlet in Turkey for their products under the brand Innovapak.
Overall, it is expected that 40 SMEs will participate in the year-round export coaching initiative in Turkmenistan, with the hope that all selected SMEs will be able to boost their export potential just like Halk Hazyna did thanks to Ready4Trade's support.
The initiative also pays special attention to women-led enterprises, which face specific challenges in their cross-border management operations.Last but not least, as to ensure its sustainability, the project is implemented in partnership with the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan.
With the project Ready4Trade - Central Asia, the European Union and the International Trade Centre are joining forces to contribute to the overall sustainable and inclusive economic development of Central Asia by boosting intra-regional and international trade in the region.
Beneficiaries of the Ready4Trade Central Asia project include governments, small and medium sized enterprises, in particular women led enterprises, and Business Support Organizations.The project operates in 5 countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.