The scale of the small business sector is easy to underestimate. According to the United Nations, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) account for around 90 per cent of all businesses worldwide, provide 60–70 per cent of employment, and generate roughly half of global GDP. In the Kyrgyz Republic, MSMEs are equally central to the economy, contributing about 42 per cent of GDP and serving as a key source of employment and regional economic development. In emerging markets, formal small and medium-sized enterprises create around seven out of every ten jobs, making them one of the most powerful engines of employment and economic resilience. 

In the city of Osh, Dilzat is contributing to that global picture in a uniquely local way. 

Recently, she launched Sweet Fit, a café specializing in low-calorie desserts without sugar or gluten, along with ready-made healthy meals. The idea came from a simple but growing need she observed in her community. 

“I saw that many people wanted healthier food options but had very limited choices,” Dilzat says. “Athletes, people living with diabetes, and women trying to maintain healthy lifestyles often struggled to find food that matched their needs. I wanted to create something that was both delicious and good for health.” 

What began as a business idea soon became a mission to promote healthier lifestyles while creating opportunities for others. 

A major turning point came when Dilzat joined the accelerator programme under the UNDP project “Youth Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Local Solutions for Entrepreneurship and Social Cohesion,” funded by the Russian Federation. Through the programme, she gained intensive business training, mentorship, and grant support that helped transform her idea into a sustainable enterprise. 

With equipment worth approximately US$6,175 provided through the project, Dilzat was able to establish modern production facilities, improve product quality, and scale operations. Her business has already created three permanent jobs and expanded with an additional delivery point inside a local women’s fitness centre. 

Sweet Fit reflects a much larger transformation taking place across Kyrgyzstan: the growing economic empowerment of women and youth in the regions. 

Women-led MSMEs are increasingly recognized as an important source of economic growth and job creation. Research show that women-owned businesses are more likely to employ women, while higher incomes earned by women entrepreneurs often translate into greater investments in family health and education, creating wider social and economic benefits. 

Dilzat’s journey also illustrates the practical implementation of the National Development Programme of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2030, which prioritizes regional economic development and targeted support for small and medium-sized businesses. The programme recognizes women entrepreneurs as key actors in reducing regional disparities and advancing inclusive growth. 

In 2025 alone, UNDP’s entrepreneurship support programmes helped more than 600 women entrepreneurs across the country increase their sales by 41 per cent. Investments in youth entrepreneurship have also supported dozens of business initiatives and created new jobs at the local level. 

For more than three decades, UNDP has remained a strategic partner of the Kyrgyz Republic in advancing national development priorities, working closely with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Osh City Mayor’s Office, and local authorities to promote inclusive growth, human capital development, and economic opportunities for youth and women. 

For Dilzat, however, success is measured not only in sales or expansion. “It makes me happy when customers tell me they finally found desserts they can enjoy without worrying about their health,” she says. “I want Sweet Fit to show that healthy food can be accessible, tasty, and inspiring.”  

Dilzat’s story is one of many.  

 Dilzat's story demonstrates how targeted support to MSMEs can translate into tangible development outcomes: from job creation and healthier communities to greater economic opportunities for women and youth. 

Through the Janyration (“New Generation”) initiative, supported by UNDP, 76 youth-led business projects have already received support totaling US$312,000, creating around 200 jobs. An additional 52 projects are under implementation, expected to generate approximately 150 more jobs through investments of US$442,000.