Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — As part of the implementation of the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated 19 July 2019, No. PP–4399, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been tasked with introducing Subcomponent 1.1 “Business Incubators and Mentorship” under the “Rural Entrepreneurship Development in the Fergana Valley” project, carried out with the support of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

To study leading international practices in this field, a working visit of the Uzbek delegation to Tokyo was organized with the assistance of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Japan.

The main focus of the visit was to explore Japanese approaches to small business development, the operations of business incubators, and the establishment of an effective mentorship system.

During the trip, a meeting was held with representatives of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), where the parties discussed ways to stimulate entrepreneurial activity in rural areas, develop educational and mentorship programs for youth and women, and explore opportunities for establishing direct business ties between Uzbekistan and Japan.

The Japanese side introduced Uzbek specialists to the operations of leading business incubators in the country, as well as successful examples of public-private partnerships in this domain. The members of the Uzbek delegation expressed interest in applying Japanese experience in the implementation of their own project.

As a result of the talks, an agreement was reached to develop bilateral cooperation, conduct joint seminars, and maintain regular exchanges of experience.

The outcomes of the visit are expected to serve as a foundation for improving mechanisms of support for rural entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan and to enhance the effectiveness of the ongoing project in the Fergana Valley.