Since 2009 SECO has been working with ITC for trade promotion in Central Asia in the T&C sector. This assistance project was focused on providing capacity building to SMEs to improve their export capacity, to develop a national export strategy and to improve regulatory infrastructure such as standards and quality assurance in T&C. The T&C sector is one of the government?s priorities, having been identified as such in their Medium-Term Development Program ? Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (2012 ? 2014). It is one of the most important exporting industries in Kyrgyzstan.

The project will contribute to income generation and job creation through the enhanced export competitiveness of sector enterprises and institutional capacity building. Through the reinforcement of TSIs more T&C companies active in design, processing and handicraft segments in the whole country will be reached.

SMEs in the T&C sector, including textile and garment related handicraft enterprises, are more export competitive and have access to new markets.

Institutional capacities improved to provide higher quality and wider range of services to SMEs.

Expected results:  

Enhanced knowledge in sourcing, product design, marketing, quality management.

Improved operations of export ready and handicrafts enterprises in sourcing, product design, marketing, productivity and quality management.

Business linkages created in target markets for export ready and handicraft enterprises.

Potential of integration of Kyrgyz bio-cotton producers into local value chains identified.

Institutional strategy and structure of the TPO developed to address market requirements for services.

TSI services to develop and promote exports are expanded and improved.

Results from previous phases:  

Since 2009 SECO has been working with ITC for trade promotion in Central Asia in the textile and clothing (T&C) sector. This assistance project was focused on a larger export promotion programme based on four modalities (strategic approach, trade intelligence, building capacities, regulatory infrastructure). During 2012 an external evaluation was undertaken by SECO which recommended to pursue this project through a second phase to reach a higher critical mass of companies trained and to ensure more sustainability within local institutions. The new project phase builds upon SECO?s Trade Promotion Project, Phase I, and seeks to implement the recommendations provided in the external evaluation by scaling up activities in order to expand project impact and guarantee sustainability by addressing the needs of a broader group of enterprises and putting greater focus on trade support institutions (TSIs) development.

Phase 3 01.04.2006 - 31.12.2008   (Completed)