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The Times of Central Asia (17 July 2020)

Nur-Sultan

The European Union (EU) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) will support Central Asian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) − including those led by women − to increase trade volumes in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. ITC has begun the implementation phase of a four-year Ready4Trade Central Asia project to provide targeted trade development support to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The €15 million European Union-funded project contributes to sustainable and inclusive economic development of the region by supporting investment, competitiveness and trade, the Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan said on July 16.

ITC is launching the project against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly disrupted international trade and devastated SMEs in the region. Introducing trade easing measures − such as those that facilitate cross-border trade, increase transparency and enable e-commerce − will help mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic on SMEs in Central Asia, and help alleviate its drastic economic consequences.

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