TASHKENT, Uzbekistan

On 3 December 2021, SRSG Natalia Gherman addressed the Inaugural Meeting of the Discussion Club of Women Entrepreneurs of Central Asia under the overall theme of “Enhancing the Contribution of Women Entrepreneurs to the Economic Growth and Prosperity in Central Asia”.

The meeting was organized under the aegis of the Central Asia Women Leaders’ Caucus (CAWLC), a platform launched in December 2020 with the support of UNRCCA and UNDP, to enhance the political, economic and social participation of women in the region.

In her opening remarks, SRSG Gherman welcomed the creation of the Discussion Club as a platform for open exchanges and development of new ideas and projects. The Club’s work would also be a valuable tool for contributing to political advocacy efforts on gender issues across the region. She noted the importance of the continuous efforts of the CAWLC towards supporting women's economic potential and economic initiatives which would in turn enhance regional co-operation and contribute to sustainable Peace and Security in Central Asia. In this connection, SRSG Gherman also stressed the need to explore creative ways of engaging with Afghan women in the work of both the Discussion Club and the CAWLC despite the complex situation in the neighboring country.

At the inauguration meeting of the Discussion Club, women representatives of both the private and public sectors discussed prerequisites for creating an enabling policy and business environment for women entrepreneurs in Central Asia.

The Discussion Club is aimed to support peer learning on innovative business models and smart and practical solutions for women’s entrepreneurship and to promote creative approaches to women economic empowerment.

Read more about the Central Asia Women Leaders’ Caucus: https://unrcca.unmissions.org/women-leaders-caucus