Dushanbe, 21.04.2016. /NIAT “Khovar”/. The Union of Craftsmen of Tajikistan (UCT) and National Association of Small and Medium Business (NASMB) with support of international NGO Cesvi, will be hosting today a networking meeting “The Future of Tajikistan’s Handicraft Sector” at the Lotus Hotel in Dushanbe.

Since January 2014, NASMB, UCT, and Bishkek Business Club (BBC) in partnership with international NGO Cesvi have been implementing the European Union funded project “Handicraft and Business through Regional Integration and Fair Trade Market” for the development and regional integration of Business Intermediary Organizations (BIOs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the handicraft sectors of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

For over two years, the partners have hosted roundtables and workshops with State authorities and stakeholders, conducted study tours to Europe, conducted Training of Trainers on legal/regulatory issues, workshops on product improvement, regional exchanges between BIOs and craftsmen of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, hosted handicraft fairs and conducted other activities in an effort to bring about a legal and regulatory environment favorable to the development of the handicraft sector as well as to facilitate improved services for handicraft entrepreneurs to enable the improvement and marketing of their products.

As the project nears its end, this final networking meeting will bring together stakeholders in a final conference to share the accomplishments, challenges and lessons learned through the project, as well as provide perspective into the needs for the further development of Tajikistan’s handicraft sector. During the conference, a select few handicraft artisans that are members of UCT will also be invited to display their crafts.