Today, the development of SMEs is an engine of economic growth and a tool for creating new jobs. The global trend also includes the growth of entrepreneurship among women, as the development of women’s entrepreneurship, women’s participation in the economy contributes to prosperity, growth and strengthening of the economy.
According to the “Program of State support of entrepreneurship in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2012-2020”, the number of business entities from 187.0 thousand in 2012 reached 328.0 thousand in 2020.
Today, approximately 75,000 women entrepreneurs have registered their business in Tajikistan (according to the Committee on Women’s Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan).
In particular, a significant impetus to improving the socio-economic situation of youth, women and people with disabilities was given through the adoption of the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan dated January 28, 2021 under No. 5 “On grants of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan for the support and development of women’s entrepreneurship for 2021-2025” and the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan dated April 30, 2021 No. 167 “National Strategy for enhancing the role of women in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2021-2030”. This strategy also includes the development of women’s entrepreneurship, with the aim of creating new jobs, developing self-employment and the sustainability of the economic position of women in society.
From the source of the Women’s Affairs Committee, 80 target projects out of 332 submitted were supported in 2021, as part of the implementation of the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan dated January 28, 2021 “On grants of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan for the support and development of women’s entrepreneurship for 2021-2025”.
The allocated grants are aimed at developing small and medium-sized businesses, attracting women and girls to vocational training, providing them with permanent and seasonal work. According to the Committee on Women and Family Affairs, from 2006 to 2021, projects of women entrepreneurs in the amount of 21 million 300 somoni were supported.
An assessment of the current situation in Tajikistan shows that according to the World Bank’s Women, Business and Law Index, Tajikistan has an index of 81.88 points, which ranks 71 out of 187 (the global average index index is 74.71 points), and the ratio of women’s wages to men’s wages is 64.1%.
It should also be noted that the country has seen positive results in promoting women’s rights and the development of women’s entrepreneurship, in this direction, the state has taken measures to ease the entrepreneurial burden, including:
– exemption of women entrepreneurs from taxation during maternity leave in accordance with the Decree of the PRT of November 30, 2019 No. 605;
– amendments and additions have been made to the “Rules of taxation of individual entrepreneurs operating on the basis of patents and certificates” of individuals according to the list of activities for the production of consumer goods at home, since January 1, 2020, they have been registered in the tax authorities as an individual entrepreneur free of charge in the state and are exempt from taxes. This measure will also support women entrepreneurs, since most women run their businesses at home.;
– On January 2, 2020, draft amendments to the laws “On State Duty” and “On State Registration of legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs” were developed and adopted, aimed at abolishing the state fee for registration of business entities and reducing costs. This procedure, in particular, will support women’s entrepreneurship.
Much attention is also paid to the participation of women entrepreneurs in the development of agriculture, since Tajikistan is an agrarian country and attracting women to develop their activities in this sector will push the development of the sector as a whole.
With the support and development of enterprises owned by women, women’s economic opportunities and rights are expanding. As practice has shown, women develop and grow themselves, and also support each other by providing mentoring. The development of women is important for the development of not only business, but also the nation as a whole. The more women’s enterprises there are, the more successful each individual region, district or city will be.
Why is it important to support women entrepreneurs and the development of their business, because this increases the financial stability of families and the country as a whole.
Of course, in order to create all the necessary conditions for women to do business, it will take a lot of time and effort. It is necessary to remove restrictions that prevent women from developing entrepreneurial activities, create favourable conditions for the development of women’s entrepreneurship in the country.