Inclusion in Action: Ways to support women entrepreneurs discussed at the Investment Forum

Experts from government agencies, international organizations, banks and the private sector discussed strategic steps to overcome gender barriers in business at the panel session "Bridging the Gap: Building Inclusive Ecosystems for Women Entrepreneurs", held within the framework of the Tashkent International Investment Forum.

According to the United Nations Development Program, in 2024, the number of women entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan exceeded 2.1 million — almost seven times more than in 2020. Despite the growth, only 17% of women are involved in the formal corporate sector, and almost half face difficulties related to the need to combine professional and family responsibilities.

UNDP Resident Representative Akiko Fujii presented the results of a study that interviewed more than 4,000 women. The main barrier is unpaid family care work, which restricts women's access to scaling businesses. The data confirm that traditional gender roles still have a significant impact on women's economic engagement.

Nozima Davletova, head of the division in the Presidential Administration, focused on institutional support. According to her, the reforms of recent years have created the basis for increasing women's participation in entrepreneurship, but social attitudes still hinder the start of business activities. The Hamroh program, which has reached more than 3,000 women, serves not only as a financial tool, but also as an educational platform that promotes responsible resource management.

Financial access is a key topic of discussion. Andrey Aranitasi, Director of the EBRD Representative Office in Uzbekistan, said that over the past year alone, the bank has provided about 1,700 loans to small and medium-sized businesses. Since 2020, about $200 million has been allocated to support women and youth. Special attention is paid to the WE Finance Code initiative, which aims to promote gender equity in the financial sector.

Enrico Pinali, Regional Director of the Asian Development Bank, highlighted progress in increasing financial inclusion. According to current estimates, the proportion of women with bank accounts has increased from 46% in 2021 to 62% in 2024. However, structural challenges remain, ranging from the digital divide to a lack of financial literacy. According to Pinali, removing these barriers is critical to ensuring equal access to financial services.

The business sector is also demonstrating efforts to expand opportunities. Malika Sharipova, founder of Care CSR Ltd, noted the role of large companies in promoting equality: the Uzum platform provided participants of the Hamroh program with a dedicated space on the Uzum Market, and Korzinka increases the share of women in leadership positions. Today, 45% of supervisors and 30% of managers in the network are women.

The panel agreed that creating an inclusive business environment requires coordinated public policies, sustained investment in women's capacity development, and expanded professional networks. Support from the state, international institutions and business should be systematic and focused not only on the participation, but also on the success of every woman in the economy.