State Committee on Investment and State Property Management (SCI) of the Republic of Tajikistanprovided Opportunities for New Businesses in Tajikistan by Opening a State Business Incubator (State Institution of Support and Development of Entrepreneurship).
The State Business Incubator is now functioning in Dushanbe, including branche in Bokhtar, Kulyab,Khujand, Khorog and Kanibadam providing support to new start-up ideas in the early stages.The services provided by the business incubator are very important for successful development and launch of the business. “Startupers” can become the resident of the business incubator for 3 to 12 months and receive help in developing their business idea, get ready for the launch of idea and pitching it to international donors and private investors.
The Business Incubator recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the GIZ Towards Rural Inclusive Growth and Economic Resilience (TRIGGER) II programme – Component IV “Start ups Promotion project”, implemented by PEM CONSULT. The MoU outlines the terms and details of promotion of start-up activities, which comprise of awareness rising campaigns, conduction of Start-up events, Bootcamps, Business Incubation programme (3-months), mentoring and coaching activities for newly funded companies.
Providing consultations on internal business processes As per Head of International Department of Business Incubator, Vitaly Shamaev, “The business incubator provides services to young startupers in the five main directions, including:
- Providing consultations to entrepreneurs on interaction with state authorities
- Providing access to financial opportunities
- Providing access to dynamic business environment
- Providing access to high speed internet
These services help the young entrepreneurs to rapidly develop their skills and learn necessary information for becoming competitive and viable in the business environment”.
The business incubator aims at development and promotion of entrepreneurship throughout Tajikistan, particularly in the regional level by organizing educational events, training sessions and master classes. The important part of business incubator’s work is to support innovative concepts, young startup ideas and women’s entrepreneurship by providing them incubation and acceleration, consultation and opportunities to finance their business projects.
“Most of our current residents are young people and women. We provide support to innovative, creative, perspective and interesting business ideas, despite the age, gender or any other belongings or startuper, however supporting women entrepreneurs is very important in the current conditions of doing business in the country. We are realizing the project supported by UN Development Program “Supporting and development of women entrepreneurship in Tajikistan” training women on the basics of entrepreneurship, looking for business ideas, marketing skills, accounting and state registration of business”. – said Vitaly Shamaev
The business incubator in cooperation with UNDP started realization of project to develop women’s entrepreneurship through training and implementation of effective support mechanisms. On September 2020 six-day training sessions were conducted in Bokhtar and Khujand cities for 40 women entrepreneurs. The training sessions covered the information on:
- How to start a business if you have no experience?
- How can a woman register her business in Tajikistan?
- How to stay on the market among competitors?
- Regulatory procedures for opening and closing of a certificate of private entrepreneur?
- How to attract clients to your business?
- How to recruit good specialists to your business?
- How to prepare and submit reports to the tax office?
- How to build sales channels?
- How to secure your business?
These training sessions aimed at supporting women’s entrepreneurship and developing of economic potential of rural women in Tajikistan.
The sturtupers are preparing presentation in the Business incubator to pitch their Eco Plast idea.The business incubator is also acting as the mediator between the start-up ideas and potential investors and donors. The business incubator is cooperating with a number of international organizations to
provide the new businesses a good opportunity for its residents to win a grant for the implementation of their business ideas.
The activities of the business incubator of Tajikistan were commenced at the end of 2018 to provide methodological, informational, and advisory support to entrepreneurs. Creation of business incubator was initiated by the decree of the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon. During this time, the incubator graduated a number of successful start-ups, including Vitamin.tj, Yak-Du, Smart-Sokhtmon, Eco-Plast, and Keto&Fit Tajikistan, which have an idea and more than one sale to suggest in the market. In the future articles we will tell you about the experience and achievements of these business ideas, as well as about the cooperation of business incubator with TRIGGER II-Start-up Promotion project.
Photo credit: State Institution of Support and Development of Entrepreneurship