BERLIN, June 10. /Dunyo IA/. As part of a visit to Germany by a delegation comprising representatives of JSCB "Microcreditbank" and women entrepreneurs, led by Chairperson of the Committee on Family and Women’s Affairs Zulaykho Mahkamova, a number of bilateral meetings were held and several cooperation documents were signed, reports a correspondent of Dunyo Information Agency.

The purpose of the visit, organized with the support of the German organization Sparkassenstiftung for International Development e.V. and the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Germany, was to foster cooperation in the field of women’s entrepreneurship, establish direct contacts between its stakeholders, and further expand collaboration with German foundations.

The delegation held meetings with representatives of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the German Rural Women’s Association (Deutscher Landfrauenverband), the Organization for Women and Youth Affairs, the Women in Leadership and Youth Work of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, and several other institutions. In addition, members of the Uzbek delegation became acquainted with the activities of the Mittelbrandenburg Savings Bank and the Banking Academy in Potsdam.

During the visit, a number of agreements were signed. According to one document signed between the women’s entrepreneurship support company Hamroh, JSCB "Microcreditbank", and the German foundation Sparkassenstiftung for International Cooperation e.V., the foundation will support training programs on financial literacy and business management for women entrepreneurs. The document also provides for the allocation of targeted loans to women entrepreneurs through "Microcreditbank".

Agreements signed between the German foundation West-Östliche Begegnungen and the company Hamroh aim to promote intercultural dialogue, implement joint projects on women's leadership, and expand women's participation in decision-making within civil society.

The Committee on Family and Women’s Affairs, JSCB "Microcreditbank", and Sparkassenstiftung for International Cooperation e.V. are jointly developing programs on financial literacy, business planning, and capacity building to support the sustainable development of women-led enterprises in Uzbekistan. They are also working on establishing cooperation in the area of financing opportunities for local financial institutions to support women entrepreneurs — including grant mechanisms or subsidized credit lines. Cooperation agreements between the foundations were signed to this effect.

The agreements reached, along with the knowledge and experience gained, will contribute to the sustainable development of women’s entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan and further strengthen international cooperation in the field of entrepreneurship.