Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Within the project “Regional Integration and Capacity Building to Boost Agribusiness MSMEs Competitiveness and Trade Promotion in Central Asia - CANDY V” and “Aid for Trade” UNDP project two capacity building events in clustering were held for organizations, enterprises, and relevant government agencies in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. 

On 18-19 October 2021, in cooperation with AAC project consortium "Austrian Agricultural Cluster", a two-day capacity-building and awareness-raising event on clustering was organized for organizations, enterprises, and relevant state authorities. During the event the participants discussed the types of clusters, cluster mobilization and creation, financing and policy support approaches to developing competitive cooperation among cluster members as well as further challenges for cluster management.

The event was conducted in a form of a detailed introductory course with coaching and consulting, open discussions and debates, as well as individual evaluation and training by AAC’s general manager, Hermann Wieser. Mr. Wieser shared his experience and demonstrated the role of clusters in the consolidation and development of local companies and products, as well as the success factors and sustainability of collaborative cluster initiatives. He noted that the region’s fresh and dried fruit and vegetable industry is largely export-oriented, which increases the ability of countries to address social and economic challenges. "The solution for businesses in Central Asia may lie in the creation of clusters as a way to strengthen the food sector in the process of entering international markets, as clusters are considered a means of innovative cooperation, trade development and increasing employment," he highlighted.

The second two-day event held on 20-21 October 2021 in the round table format covered issues on the promotion of the GLOBALG.A.P. standard and clusterisation in Central Asia, in particular, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In recent years, several pilot projects on implementation of GlobalG.A.P. standards at the level of dekhkan/farming farms engaged in fruit and vegetable production have been implemented in Uzbekistan. According to the recommendation of the GlobalG.A.P. Secretariat, a comprehensive approach is being implemented in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, involving all parties (government, farmers, and consultants) in the implementation of measures aimed at creating an enabling environment for implementation of GlobalG.A.P. standards in production practices.

During the round table, participants were able to share their experiences on the institutional approach, measures of state support to dehkan/farming farms, discuss existing problematic issues of farmers, as well as consider the necessary technical support from donors. At the end of the training, the participants visited dehkan/farming farms that have implemented and are certified according to the GlobalG.A.P. standard, and learned on the functioning of the Agrocluster on vegetables and fruits.

The UNDP trade development activities are carried out in accordance with the Action Strategy for Uzbekistan Development 2017-2021, with focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN Member States.