Uzbekistan Provides 128 Women With Micro Loans for Business Development

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 1, 2010 - Tashkent's Centre of National Art on February 23 hosted a
ceremony to award the winners of the "Social Support of Family
Entrepreneurship" competition, organized by the Women's Council Public
Association and the National Association of Microfinance Organisations and
Credit Unions (NAMOCU).

Gulnara Karimova, Chairperson of the Women's Council's
Organising Committee, presented awards to 128 Uzbek business women. An
initiative set up by Karimova and funded by the Women's Council and the
NAMOCU, in conjunction with Mehr nuri (Ray of mercy) Public Foundation and
the Social Initiative Support Fund (SISF), made available 518 grants and
microcredits worth over 1.8 billion UZS for 2009-2010. The initiative
culminated in the award ceremony last week.

The main goals of the competition are to assist the
development of female entrepreneurship, providing business support and
consultancy services to Uzbek female entrepreneurs, helping to foster a
network of women running their own businesses in the region.

The categories in the micro loan programme for women include
agriculture, food manufacture, textile and clothing production, craft
development, personal and social services, provision of services in retail
trade, and catering.

The micro credit project will enhance female business
leadership in the region and help develop skills in independent business
management.

Small and medium enterprises represent an important market for
micro credits and loans. As in many countries, small businesses in Uzbekistan
are a vital part of the domestic economy and are broadly supported by public
organisations that allocate funds to strong business plans.

Professional master classes were given to the competition
winners by heads of major financial organizations, giving them an opportunity
to pose questions related to business management, skills in credit-related
activities and writing winning business proposals.

About the project

Provision of micro credits for women farmers.

Geographic area: Djizakh, Navoi, Samarkand, Bukhara, Andijan, Namangan
and Kokand city.

Implementation period: January 2009 - December 2009

Project partners:

"Microcreditbank"

DVV International (Germany)

MFC (Poland)

Credit Unions <<Asr>>, <<Tayanch>>, <<Mador>>, <<Sherdor>>, <<Umid>>,
<<Ishonch>>, <<Lastochka>>

Association of auditors and accountants of Uzbekistan

Charity Foundation "Makhalla"

Project description: The project is focused at giving opportunities for
improving the economic conditions and quality of life of more than 3500
family members of women farmers of the Republic of Uzbekistan by providing
them with micro credits and, increasing their educational level and skills in
farming.

Press Office: Dinara Dultaeva

Contact: +998-71-2392771/74/69

Press Office: Dinara Dultaeva; Contact: +998-71-2392771/74/69