The Germany visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, Elmira Basitkhanova, predominantly focused on the exchange of business opportunities for women in Uzbekistan and Germany as well as on the current partnership projects between these two countries.
On Monday, 9 November, Matthias Fohs, Sparkassenstiftung’s Head of Division for Central Asia, welcomed Mrs. Basitkhanova and three other high-level delegation members, and together they set off to Oberwesel/Rhineland-Palatinate, which was their first stop on the four-day trip. Among others, Rita Lanius-Heck, President of the Association of Rural Women in Rhineland-Nassau, and Marita Frieden, Managing Director of the Working Group of Rural Women, informed about measures of promoting female entrepreneurs in an agricultural context. Afterwards, the delegation visited the Savings Banks Academy Schloss Waldthausen in Budenheim, where they were officially welcomed by Dieter Schmitz, Head of the Savings Banks Academy.
Exchange between the sister cities Bonn and Bukhara: Uzbek delegation visits the Federal City of Bonn
The other day, the guests from Central Asia visited the Federal City of Bonn and discussed about business opportunities for women with Mayor Angelica Maria Kappel. As Zulfiya Tuyeva, the Deputy Mayor of Bukhara, was among the foreign guests and with Bukhara being the sister city of Bonn, current partnership issues were discussed as well on this occasion.
Later on, the delegation visited Sparkassenstiftung’s head office and was warmly welcomed by its Managing Director, Niclaus Bergmann. Together with Matthias Fohs, Sparkassenstiftung’s Head of Division for Central Asia, and Mr. Bergmann, the delegation vividly discussed about the current partnership project between Sparkassenstiftung and the Uzbek Women’s Committee, focusing on “Inclusive Financial Sector Development in Uzbekistan”.
From Germany’s Federal to its Capital City: Tight schedule in Berlin
In Berlin, the guests awaited a series of high-level discussion partners. Following a joint lunch with Dr. Hans-Ulrich Schneider, the Deputy Managing Director of the Deutscher Sparkassen- und Giroverband (German Savings Banks Association – DSGV) and Sparkassenstiftung’s Member of the Board, a meeting with the Vice President of the German Bundestag, Johannes Singhammer, the delegation met with Hans-Joachim Fuchtel, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). At the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, the delegation was later on welcomed by the Parliamentary State Secretary Elke Ferner. The first visiting day in Berlin was closed with a reception at the Uzbek embassy, hosted by H.E. Durbek Amanov, the Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
On the other day in the German capital, Dr. Michael Emrich, President of the Ostdeutscher Sparkassenverband (East German Savings Banks Association – OSV) welcomed the Uzbek guests. The reception at the OSV premises was followed by meetings with Iris Gleicke, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, as well as with Knut Abraham and Dr. Maximilian Spinner from the Department of Bilateral Relations in Central, Eastern, Southern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus at the German Federal Chancellery (Bundeskanzleramt). The second day in Berlin was closed with a joint dinner hosted by the Chairman of the German-Central Asian Parliamentary Group, Manfred Grund.
On their last day in Germany, the delegation members met with Dr. Katja von der Bey, Chair of the women cooperative WeiberWirtschaft e.G., and discussed about measures and offers of the “Gründerinnenzentrum” – the centre for women establishing new businesses.
Long-standing partnership: Sparkassenstiftung and Uzbek Women’s Committee work hand in hand
Sparkassenstiftung’s partnership project on inclusive financial sector development, which is promoted by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), was launched in 2010 in close cooperation with the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan (WCU). The project targets to improve the social and economic situation of poorer population groups in Uzbekistan by promoting financial inclusion and entrepreneurship. Since that time, Sparkassenstiftung has supported the establishment of consulting centres for start-up and micro businesses at WCU’s regional centres throughout the country. These consulting centres provide a platform for sound advice on financial services that is not tied to the doctrine of any one bank in Uzbekistan and give advice on how to apply for a loan, for instance. Although the consulting centres are open to male and female (potential) entrepreneurs alike, the sponsorship through the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan is supposed to attract female entrepreneurs and start-ups in particular.
During the consulting sessions, the <link http: www.sparkassenstiftung.de en media-publications archive archive-publications archivdetail00 datum get-to-know-your-numbers-filmpremiere-das-mikrofinanz-planspiel-der-sparkassenstiftung-erstma.html _blank>Micro Business Game, which Sparkassenstiftung has especially developed for microenterprises, is strongly utilized. Since the launch of the project, some 34,000 women have been advised on financial matters and about 13,000 women participated in business simulation game seminars.
Within the scope of the delegation visit, new ideas and potential targets were discussed for the partnership project between Sparkassenstiftung and the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan. It was agreed on examining the extent to which agricultural tourism can be promoted and introduced as new target group within the scope of future project activities. Furthermore, it will be checked how the services rendered by the Women’s Committee can be commercially utilized and marketed to promote its operational self-sufficiency. And finally, possibilities of cooperation focusing on “self-employment of women – also in technical professions” will be reviewed.
The official press release of the Federal City of Bonn about the delegation visit can be accessed <link http: www.sparkassenstiftung.de fileadmin user_upload pdf aktuelles _blank>here [German language only].
Contact Partners:
Matthias Fohs / Carina Lau
Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation
Simrockstraße 4
53113 Bonn / Germany
Phone: +49 228 9703-6617 / -6608
Fax: +49 228 9703-6613