LocationsHamroh, UNDP and The Coca-Cola Foundation Held an Award Ceremony for the First Round of WESP Grants Supporting Women’s Entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan
March 5, 2026
Tashkent, 4 March 2026, Hilton Tashkent City – Hamroh, the United Nations Development Programme in Uzbekistan (UNDP), and The Coca-Cola Foundation held a ceremonial award event honoring 20 winners of the first round of grants under the Women Entrepreneurship Support Program (WESP) in Uzbekistan.
The event marked a logical continuation of the strategic trilateral partnership announced in December 2025 and demonstrated the first tangible results of this collaboration.
Opening remarks were delivered by Nozimakhon Davletova, Consultant to the Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Coordinator of the Human Capital Development Project Office, and Member of the Hamroh Supervisory Board; Gulnora Rakhimova, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Kazumasa Mukae, General Director of Coca-Cola in Uzbekistan; and Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan. In their speeches, the speakers emphasized the importance of expanding women’s access to financial instruments and institutional support as a key condition for unlocking their economic potential and ensuring sustainable national development.
Under the first stage of the programme, 20 winners will receive grants of up to USD 5,000 each. The total funding volume amounts to up to USD 100,000. The funds will be allocated for the procurement of equipment to support business development and scaling.
The grant support is the result of comprehensive work within the WESP programme, which includes educational modules, advisory support, and business project preparation. Participants completed training, strengthened their entrepreneurial skills, and presented their initiatives through a competitive selection process.
The programme includes two stages of grant support, allowing for broader outreach and providing additional opportunities for women entrepreneurs across different regions of the country.
As part of the ceremony, a short social film titled “Supporting Women’s Entrepreneurship” premiered. The film was created with the support of Hamroh, UNDP Uzbekistan, and The Coca-Cola Foundation in Uzbekistan. The film highlights an important theme – the role of family in a woman entrepreneur’s success. Through interviews with husbands, fathers, and sons of WESP participants, it emphasizes that family support plays a crucial role in business sustainability and women’s confidence. The screening was dedicated to International Women’s Day on 8 March and symbolizes recognition of women’s contribution to economic and community development.
“Too often women look at themselves through the eyes of others. We define our worth through what others say about us, what they think about us, how they judge us. But our true value is not in the newest iPhone or expensive jewelry. Real luxury is the ability to realize our potential and to have the courage to follow our dreams. Sometimes this path costs us more — but it is worth it.” — Nozimakhon Davletova, Consultant to the Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Coordinator of the Human Capital Development Project Office, and Member of the Hamroh Supervisory Board
“In December, we announced the launch of our strategic partnership, and today we see its practical results. These 20 winners are an example of how systematic support, access to knowledge, and financial instruments enable women to confidently scale their businesses. Our goal is to make such opportunities accessible to as many women as possible across the country.” — Dilfuza Nurmatova, General Director of Hamroh
“At UNDP, we believe that investing in women’s agency within the business environment does more than support individual success; it strengthens the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability across the entire economic landscape. The Grant Program we celebrate today was built on the experience of previous UNDP projects supporting entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan. Its primary goal is to support the development and scaling of business activities for those who have successfully navigated the WESP Project's acceleration program”. — Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan
"For me, supporting women doesn't start with programs and initiatives - it starts at home, with respect for each other's choices, careers, and dreams. True empowerment isn't about words, but about personal example and the opportunities we create. That is why, together with our partners, we invest in women entrepreneurs throughout Uzbekistan, because by supporting them today, we are shaping the country's future for tomorrow." — Kazumasa Mukae, General Director of Coca-Cola in Uzbekistan
Background information: The Women Entrepreneurship Support Program (WESP) – was initiated by Hamroh and is implemented in partnership with UNDP with the support of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The programme strengthens women-led enterprises and expands economic opportunities for women across the country through accelerator programmes, training sessions, and other capacity-building initiatives.
More information: https://go.undp.org/iYB
Hamroh – the first company in Uzbekistan providing free training programmes, mentorship, and advisory support for women entrepreneurs, as well as facilitating access to concessional financing under transparent conditions.
The Coca-Cola Foundation – the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company, supporting initiatives in sustainable development, entrepreneurship development, and community strengthening.
