LocationsWomen Entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan Unlock New Opportunities in Creative Economy and Sustainable Tourism
September 24, 2025
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan
August 20–28 and September 8–12, 2025 Uzbekistan – Women entrepreneurs participating in the Accelerator Programme of the Women Entrepreneurship Support Programme (WESP), implemented in collaboration with Hamroh - Women’s Entrepreneurship Support Company and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, gained valuable new knowledge and skills on through a series of master classes focused on two themes: the creative economy and the development of sustainable tourism rooted in the local context led by international experts from Russia.
During the specialized master classes, participants explored how creativity and sustainable tourism can act as powerful drivers of inclusive economic growth in Uzbekistan. Sessions on developing tourism products, led by sustainable tourism experts Svetlana Kopylova and Iva Lebedeva, highlighted that building tourism in rural areas means not only attracting visitors but also creating new sources of income and employment opportunities for local communities including small business owners, handicraft makers, and farmers, while also creating jobs for women, youth, and other community members.
In the creative economy master class, conducted by Ekaterina Biktimirova, participants gained valuable insights into how different types of businesses can thrive by integrating creativity into their operations: “The creative economy opens opportunities for women to create unique products, enter new markets, and grow their businesses — from young mothers to experienced entrepreneurs. Strong feedback from participants confirms both the relevance of this topic and women’s eagerness to unlock their creative potential,” said Ekaterina Biktimirova, expert on creative economy.
Sustainable tourism was also positively received by women entrepreneurs, especially those running businesses in the regions. They discovered how they could link their entrepreneurship with tourism, opening new income opportunities, by using local resources and cultural heritage. For instance, a woman entrepreneur from Fergana plans to develop handicraft tourism through her own pottery workshop in the Rishtan district, while another participant from Namangan presented a project based on fish farming, offering tourists a hands-on fishing experience.
“After the master class, I was inspired to welcome tourists to my peach and apricot garden. Seeing other women’s projects motivated me to bring my idea to life,” said Aziza Mirzanazarova, a garden owner from Namangan region and a participant of WESP.
By combining international expertise with local potential, these master classes demonstrated how creativity and sustainable tourism can serve as powerful engines of inclusive economic growth. These master classes were supported under the “Russian Experts on Demand programme” implemented within the framework of the regional project “Knowledge Management and Capacity Building in Russia-UNDP Partnership”, Phase III.
The Women Entrepreneurship Support Programme, in close partnership with Hamroh and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, continues to create opportunities for women entrepreneurs to access knowledge, mentorship, and networking opportunities, enabling them to successfully grow and scale their businesses.
Contact for additional information:
- Zilola Gaybullaeva, Communication Analyst at the UNDP Women Entrepreneurship Support Programme, zilola.gaybullaeva@undp.org
- Diyora Mamadalieva, Head of Communications, Training, and Mentoring Department at Hamroh Company, d.mamadalieva@hamrohingiz.uz
