Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are connected not only by a common history, culture and traditions, but there are also similar points in the reform system, in particular, the development of women's entrepreneurship.

Why did we decide to focus on this direction? It is certainly gaining momentum and is relevant both for the country as a whole and from the point of view of improving the well-being of families. In Tajikistan there are opportunities for the development of entrepreneurship, including the implementation of business woman projects. The private sector is changing every year, but at the same time it remains fundamental in national strategies and programs to improve living standards.

According to the State Committee for Investments and State Property Management of Tajikistan, the share of the private sector in GDP at the end of 2016 was almost 70%. It provides jobs to 67% of the population and 78% of tax revenues to the state budget. An important component of the country's economic policy is the development of a favorable business environment. This is also an opportunity for every resident to improve their life by investing energy and knowledge in promising projects.

For this sector, there is a simplified procedure for taxation, registration, licensing, and there is also a moratorium on inspections of the activities of small and medium-sized businesses. As a result, conditions for this activity are created. The National Development Strategy of Tajikistan until 2030 also highlights one of the priorities – the development of the private sector and entrepreneurship. Its implementation will serve to improve the business environment and encourage initiatives of the economically active part of the population, including projects among women.

By the way, grants are allocated for them. When selecting projects for financing, special emphasis is placed on creating new jobs, increasing the activity of women in the economic sector, ensuring their competitiveness in the labor market, as well as employment and training in professions.

It should also be noted that the country is taking measures to ease the business burden, including:

– exemption of entrepreneurs from taxation during maternity leave;

– there are tax benefits for entrepreneurs who run their business at home;

– there were also draft amendments to laws aimed at abolishing the state duty for registering business entities.

The country's implemented economic policy should have a positive impact on the growth of women's entrepreneurship and an increase in the number of active participants in this area.

The number of women entrepreneurs as of January 1, 2022 was 78,482 or more than 24% of business entities in the country. Including 29,739 individual entrepreneurs operating on the basis of a certificate and 6,608 units operating on the basis of a patent.

The dynamics of the development of the private sector structure in terms of gender shows an almost threefold increase in the share of female business entities, from 11.7% in 2010 to 31.5% in 2020.

However, the coronavirus pandemic has also put enormous pressure on the socio-economic situation in the world. The crisis has exposed inefficiencies in social protection, food security, trade and financing policies in many countries, and Tajikistan is no exception. Border closures and restrictions on movement have negatively impacted the activities of businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors. Small businesses took a big hit, while big businesses turned out to be more financially resistant to shocks.

The ongoing gender policy in Tajikistan encourages women's participation in public life, including in business. One of the measures is the provision of presidential grants on an annual basis. However, there are a number of factors associated with a lack of awareness in the development of one’s business, legal documents regulating the field, as well as gender stereotypes in the family and society.

What needs to be done to develop women's entrepreneurship:

• it is necessary to facilitate the receipt of preferential loans for entrepreneurs from rural regions;
• conduct regular training on completing and submitting applications for grants related to entrepreneurial activities and preparing business plans;
• it is important to carry out targeted information work with all subjects, to inform about existing opportunities for starting your own business;
• it is necessary to develop programs for the development of self-employment, the development of small and family businesses, taking into account the opportunities of women in the regions.

These and other measures will make it possible to receive complete information about ongoing government programs to support entrepreneurship, and in the future to strengthen the role of women in business, as well as support the ideas of novice specialists.

Irod Bobojonov,

Chairman of the public organization "MIR - Markazi Imkoniyat bahri Rushd" (Tajikistan)