ACWA Power and HAMROH Support Female Entrepreneurs

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the international energy company ACWA Power and HAMROH, an organization supporting female entrepreneurship, within the framework of the Fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum. The document provides for the introduction of a new model to support female entrepreneurs based on long-term business partnerships and integration into real production chains.

The memorandum was signed during a panel session dedicated to gender-responsive investing and the social efficiency of business. The new initiative aims to expand economic opportunities for women by providing access to orders and contracts within major investment projects.

As noted during the event, the development of female entrepreneurship has a significant impact on improving family well-being and strengthening human capital. According to data from international studies, women reinvest most of their income into education, healthcare, and child development, which contributes to sustainable socio-economic development.

Unlike traditional financial support programs, the new partnership is focused on creating sustainable market opportunities. Within the framework of the cooperation, ACWA Power will prioritize female entrepreneurs when purchasing a range of outsourced services, including event organization, transport services, catering, and cleaning services.

The cooperation will cover company projects implemented in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, as well as in the Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara regions. HAMROH will facilitate the selection and guidance of female entrepreneurs interested in participating in the projects of the international energy company.

Dilfuza Nurmatova, General Director of HAMROH, emphasized that the key task of the partnership is to create conditions for the sustainable growth of women-led businesses.

According to her, female entrepreneurs receive access to real market mechanisms that allow them to develop their companies, expand operations, and create new jobs in the country's regions, rather than receiving one-time financial support.

In turn, Jon Zaidi, head of ACWA Power in Uzbekistan, noted that the company is deliberately focusing on a long-term cooperation model.

"Our goal is not to provide short-term assistance, but to create a sustainable ecosystem where female entrepreneurs become full participants in supply chains and gain the opportunity to develop their businesses in accordance with international standards," he emphasized.

Special attention within the framework of the initiative will be paid to removing administrative barriers. Simplified procedures for interacting with the international client, as well as mechanisms for the accelerated completion of necessary verification and approval procedures, are provided for the program participants.

In addition, the program provides training for female entrepreneurs in modern approaches to conducting business, developing professional competencies, and working in the energy and related sectors of the economy.

Janona Akhmedova, Head of Communications for ACWA Power in Uzbekistan, noted that the company views the support of women as an important component of the sustainable development of the regions.

According to her, creating additional opportunities for women in the regions, where access to resources and business connections is often limited compared to the capital, is of particular importance.

The signed memorandum is set for a three-year period and provides for the formation of a sustainable system of interaction between international business and female entrepreneurs.

Experts note that this initiative could become one of the first large-scale examples of implementing an inclusive entrepreneurship model in the infrastructure sector of Uzbekistan and serve as a basis for the further expansion of such practices in Central Asian countries.

For reference: HAMROH is the first state organization in Uzbekistan specializing in supporting female entrepreneurs. The company provides educational programs, consulting services, mentoring support, and facilitates expanded access to financial resources. The organization was established in 2024 in accordance with a resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.