Locations
Aid For Trade
for Central Asia (Phase V)
The Aid for Trade in Central Asia – Phase V project supports Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in advancing inclusive and sustainable economic growth through strengthened trade competitiveness, the development of green and inclusive value chains, and enhanced regional cooperation.
Building on the achievements of previous phases, the project promotes economic diversification, greater participation of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in regional and global markets, and improved resilience to external shocks, including the long-term socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The initiative focuses on improving the policy and institutional environment for trade, strengthening trade-support and export-promotion services, and enabling MSMEs to adopt innovative, climate-friendly, and gender-responsive business models.
Through national and regional interventions, the project contributes to building productive, competitive, and sustainable economies across Central Asia.
Objectives and areas of work
The project works through three complementary levels of intervention:
1. At the macro level:
Support national trade and private-sector development policies that enhance competitiveness and facilitate economic integration into regional and global value chains.
Promote policy reforms and legal frameworks that facilitate trade, simplify business regulations and foster entrepreneurship.
2. At the meso level:
Strengthen the capacities of trade-support institutions to deliver modern, data-driven, and gender-responsive services for MSMEs.
Enhance export promotion, e-commerce development, and access to trade intelligence tools.
3. At the micro level:
Support the development of employment-rich and environmentally sustainable value chains in adventure tourism, natural honey, dried fruits and nuts, and handicrafts.
Promote women’s and youth entrepreneurship, digital skills, and inclusive participation in local and global markets.
Gender equality, environmental sustainability, and digitalization are integrated as cross-cutting priorities throughout all activities.
Interim results
During Phase V, the project has achieved significant progress at the policy, institutional, and community levels in the Kyrgyz Republic:
Policy Achievements (macro-level):
Supported the development and adoption of the National Export Development Programme 2025–2028 (“Made in Kyrgyzstan”) and the Sustainable Tourism Development Programme 2025–2030, creating robust frameworks for export competitiveness and sustainable tourism growth.
Contributed to drafting key policy documents, including the Green Economy Development Programme, the Entrepreneurship Code, and the E-Commerce Park Law, aimed at streamlining business regulations and improving the investment climate.
Institutional Strengthening (meso-level):
With UNDP’s technical assistance, KyrgyzExport launched an advanced analytical service using Product and Market Profiles for priority export goods and key target markets - Afghanistan, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Türkiye - providing exporters with reliable data on market demand, pricing, and standards.
Green and Inclusive Value Chains (micro-level):
Trained and supported over 380 entrepreneurs, including 101 women, in sectors such as honey production, adventure tourism, dried fruits and nuts, and handicrafts.
Assisted three MSMEs in obtaining ISO 22000 certification for food-safety management.
Provided USD 88,000 in grants to 45 enterprises for the adoption of innovative and eco-friendly technologies, and piloted four climate-resilient, low-emission solutions across 16 business projects.
Women’s and Youth Entrepreneurship:
Through the Mentorship Programme, E-Commerce Incubation Programme, and Open Osh Initiative, the project supported 269 MSMEs (54 percent women-led), resulting in an average 30% annual sales growth, 72% increase in online sales, and the creation of 288 new jobs.
Capacity Building for Export Marketing:
In September 2025, UNDP, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) and KyrgyzExport, conducted a two-day Export Without Borders training for over 30 MSMEs. The training strengthened participants’ skills in international negotiations, export contract preparation, and market promotion, focusing on priority export sectors such as agriculture, honey, garments, tourism, and IT services.
Capacity Building for the Digital Era:
In June 2025, UNDP and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in partnership with CCI and KyrgyzExport, organized a three-day E-Commerce Training for Kyrgyz Institutions. The training enhanced the digital competencies of 30 representatives from public and private trade-support institutions, covering marketplace registration, branding, logistics, payments, and legal compliance, with expert contributions from the Tax and Customs Services, Kyrgyz Post, and commercial banks.
Digitalization and MSME Support:
Provided targeted e-commerce and digital advisory services to 85 MSMEs to strengthen their presence on online platforms.
Delivered a Training of Trainers (ToT) on e-commerce for national trade-support institutions, creating a pool of local trainers equipped to mentor MSMEs in digital trade.
Partnerships:
Strengthened partnerships with KyrgyzExport, KATO, CCI, local authorities, and the private sector, ensuring national ownership, coordination, and sustainability of project outcomes.
Cross-cutting themes
Gender Equality:
The project actively promotes women’s economic empowerment, ensuring their participation in all aspects of trade and entrepreneurship. It supports women-led MSMEs and integrates gender perspectives into trade and private-sector policies. A dedicated section on women’s entrepreneurship has been included in the forthcoming Entrepreneurship Code.
Environmental Sustainability and Climate Resilience:
All supported value chains are designed to be green, sustainable, and climate-resilient. Activities promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable agricultural practices, contributing to Kyrgyzstan’s low-emission and climate-resilient development pathway.
Digital Transformation:
The project accelerates digitalization in trade, promotes e-commerce adoption, and supports the integration of digital solutions into public and private sector operations, fostering Central Asia’s participation in the global digital economy.
Inclusion:
Dedicated programs ensure that youth and persons with disabilities have equitable access to training, mentorship, and digital skills development opportunities—ensuring that no one is left behind.
Partnerships
The project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the leadership of the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, with coordination and implementation by UNDP Country Offices in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The Government of Finland provides financial support for the initiative.
Strong collaboration with Kyrgyz Export, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Customs, the Department of Tourism, KATO, CCI and development partners ensures national ownership and sustainability of project outcomes. By integrating successful practices into government programmes and supporting institutional capacity-building, the project helps ensure that results continue beyond its lifetime.
Project facts:
Status: Active
Project start date: October 2022
Planned end date: June 2026
Implementing partner: Istanbul Regional Hub and UNDP-Country Offices
Country coverage: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Funding partner: Government of Finland
Project coordinator: Emil Iusupov
Project budget (national component): EUR 2,106,400
Focus areas: Trade competitiveness, sustainable value chains, green economy, gender equality, and digitalization
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 1 No Poverty; SDG 5 Gender Equality; SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
