The first phase of the global She’s Next initiative, aimed at fostering women's entrepreneurship, has commenced in Uzbekistan. Implemented by Visa in partnership with Ipak Yuli Bank, with support from the Ministry of Digital Technologies and the company Hamroh, the project offers educational resources and financial grants to women seeking to start or grow their businesses.

To participate, women must register on the She’s Next platform from April 2 to May 24. All registered participants will gain access to an educational program consisting of four video lectures and four tests. Successful completion of this program enables them to advance to the next stage, where they can submit their business plans for expert evaluation.

Thirty finalists will be invited to Tashkent for the She’s Next Pitch Day final event on August 7, where seven winners will receive monetary grants to launch or expand their ventures. The total prize pool for Uzbek participants is $22,000. Tursunboy Makhkamov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Ipak Yuli Bank, described the initiative as a comprehensive platform providing women with access to knowledge, resources, and opportunities.

Sanjar Suleymanov, Vice President and Regional Manager of Visa in Central Asia, noted that since 2019, She’s Next has assisted women worldwide in starting businesses, with its Uzbekistan launch under the slogan “Boshlang!” (Start!). According to a UN report, Uzbekistan has approximately 2.1 million women entrepreneurs, a sevenfold increase from 2020. Kamola Sobirova, Advisor to the Minister of Digital Technologies, highlighted the need for additional support to boost women’s confidence and leadership skills.

Source: kun.uz