Women’s economic empowerment in rural areas focus of OSCE-supported training seminar in Kazakhstan

Promoting rural entrepreneurship for women was the focus of a two-day training seminar and roundtable discussion co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office that concluded on 29 March 2019 in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

The event was conducted in partnership with the Union of Women Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan for some 45 participants from the parliament, the local administration, the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs – Atameken, civil society and women entrepreneurs from the rural areas of the Turkestan Region.

Participants discussed current government-supported business programmes, challenges faced by women in pursuing business projects and the importance of gaining financial and managerial skills to obtain credit resources. The discussion was complemented by a  visit to companies run by women entrepreneurs of the Turkestan Region, which provided the opportunity to consider key challenges and opportunities in doing business locally.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s longstanding efforts to promote gender mainstreaming and economic empowerment initiatives in the host country.