Women's Entrepreneurship Satellite EXPO 2023 spotlights Kyrgyzstan's commitment to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment

Around 300 women entrepreneurs from across the Kyrgyz Republic convened at the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2023 satellite event in Bishkek held on November 13 - 14th, 2023, marking an important milestone in supporting women entrepreneurs and advancing gender equality in the country. The event, which brought together women from different fields and industries, was designed to inspire, educate, and drive positive change in both the entrepreneurial ecosystem and society at large.

As part of the EXPO journey, more than 200 women entrepreneurs attended an intensive bootcamp, acquiring skills and knowledge crucial for managing businesses in a competitive environment. Moreover, 40 women entrepreneurs benefited from tailored training and mentoring programs aimed at increasing their capacity to attract investments and achieve significant business growth. In addition, a fair was held from November 6th to 10th, 2023, providing women entrepreneurs with a platform to showcase their products and contribute to the advancement of women entrepreneurship in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Ulziisuren Jamsran, UN Women Representative to Kyrgyzstan, underlined the initiative’s significance, highlighting its role as a sustainable platform formed through a unique partnership between different sectors. "If equal conditions and opportunities similar to those of men were created for women in the economy, GDP growth would be at least 20-22 percent. In general, EXPO is about inspiring and stimulating positive changes through the realization of women's rights and, in particular, the rights of women entrepreneurs,” emphasized Ulziisuren Jamsran.

In his opening remarks, Bakyt Torobaev, Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasized the imperative of creating a world where every woman can fulfill her potential in the business realm. “Events like this bridge the socio-economic gap between women and men. Women entrepreneurship isn’t merely an economic endeavor; it is a movement that can change society. Let today's event propel us toward a fairer and safer society for all women,” said Bakyt Torobaev.

During the EXPO satellite event, women entrepreneurs shared inspiring stories, participated in informative master classes, and 12 of them presented their business projects to a group of investors, engaging in business meetings to secure investments for the expansion and development of their businesses.

“Today, we witness women from different regions and industries coming together, marking a pivotal moment in the development of women's entrepreneurship. We fully support and are prepared to unite all EXPO participants and partners to ensure the sustainability of this platform in the years ahead because women's entrepreneurship is an initiative that can change our society,” said Sanzhar Mukambetov, Director of the Institute for Economic Policy Research of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Furthermore, on November 13^th, the first day of Women's Entrepreneurship EXPO 2023, representatives of six companies pledged commitment towards implementing the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), aimed at empowering women in the private sector. WEPs were signed by the following companies: Kaindy-Kant OJSC, Koshoi OJSC, Kyrgyz Stock Exchange CJSC, Gallery M Art Gallery, Kyrgyz Association of Software and Services Developers, Union of Banks of Kyrgyzstan LLC.

The Women's Entrepreneurship EXPO 2023 emerged as a landmark event in the Kyrgyz Republic, uniting women entrepreneurs from various regions and industries for the third consecutive year to inspire positive social change and advocate for gender equality. The initiative offers comprehensive programmes, mentoring and networking opportunities to support the growth and advancement of women entrepreneurship.

The event was organized by UN Women in the Kyrgyz Republic in partnership with representatives from governmental, international, financial sectors, including the Institute for Economic Policy Research of the Kyrgyz Republic, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Accelerate Prosperity.