The Ready4Trade-Central Asia project officially launched a coaching initiative in Turkmenistan to increase the export potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Local project experts have already conducted the first training sessions for export-oriented enterprises that have previously submitted an application for participation in the program.

The training of trainers provided allowed local experts to hone their knowledge in packaging and labeling of goods, certification, customs procedures, international transport and export planning. At this time, trainers are transferring this knowledge to Turkmen enterprises.

“The support provided by the Ready4Trade project helps us to develop,” said Batyr Tanrygulyev, director of economic society “Halk Hazyna”, one of the coaching participants. His company produces food packaging, and despite the company's young age, it already works with leading Turkmen dairy producers.

This coaching mission actually helped the “Halk Hazyna” company to send the first products under the “Innovapak” brand to Turkey.

“My main task was to help the company in solving issues related to export procedures, including certification, customs clearance and export planning, as well as to share my own experience regarding export issues from Turkmenistan. I was lucky to take part and help in the first shipment of the cargo of the “Halk Hazyna” company for export, which happened at the time of the coaching. We will be watching with interest the results of the work done in the future,” said Gozel Akeeva, national expert on the export of the ITC project.

Increasing the export potential by means of expanding the competencies of Turkmen SMEs to enter new regional and international markets is important for the country's economic growth.

Overall, at least 40 companies in Turkmenistan are expected to participate in the export coaching initiative this year, with the hope that all selected SMEs will be able to increase their export potential, as “Halk Hazyna” has done with the support of the Ready4Trade Central Asia project. The initiative places particular emphasis on women-led enterprises that face difficulties in their cross-border management activities. Last but not least, to ensure sustainability, the project is being implemented in partnership with the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan.

Under the Ready4Trade Central Asia project, the European Union (EU) and the International Trade Center have joined forces to contribute to the overall sustainable and inclusive economic development of Central Asia by stimulating intraregional and international trade. The beneficiaries of the Ready4Trade Central Asia project are government and public institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as women-led enterprises and business support and development organizations in the countries. The project operates in 5 CA countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.