OSCE Centre organizes seminar for women entrepreneurs in Turkmenistan

ASHGABAD, 15 October 2007 - Women entrepreneurs in Turkmenistan had the opportunity to learn from their Central Asian peers through an OSCE Centre-supported seminar held over the weekend in the southeastern Mary region.

Organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabad in co-operation with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the municipality of the Mary velayat (region), the seminar resulted in proposals to establish links between organizations for women entrepreneurs in the region and to organize follow-up training programmes.

"Turkmenistan possesses significant potential for entrepreneurship development which can be nurtured through sustained education, knowledge sharing and dissemination of best practices in Central Asia," said Kayrat Kassymbekov, Project Manager of the Forum of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan, who led the seminar.

The one-day meeting provided local women entrepreneurs with first-hand knowledge and insights into strategic planning and marketing, and brought together business owners, employees of the local government's accounts and taxation departments, and members of initiative groups.

It was held at the Info Center Merw, a private organization working to promote economic development in the Mary region, and will be followed by a workshop focusing on strategic and human resources management.

The Centre also plans to facilitate small and medium enterprise development in other regions of Turkmenistan by organizing similar seminars at the provincial level.