Bishkek, Oct. 21, 2025 /Kabar/. Developing women's entrepreneurship is key to strengthening societies, said Zulfiya Karimova, Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), during the CAREC Business Women's Forum held in Bishkek.
According to her, one of the main challenges facing women in the region is lack of access to financial resources. In this regard, ADB actively supports Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programs aimed at expanding women's economic opportunities.
We support women's entrepreneurship and emphasize the importance of women's roles in the economy and society. If the state systematically addresses women's issues, phenomena such as domestic violence will disappear. When a woman is educated, employed, financially independent, and broad-minded, all of society benefits. Our goal is to empower women with the knowledge and experience to realize their potential, Karimova noted.
The ADB representative recalled that the CAREC program has been implemented since 2001, and during this period, ADB, together with other financial institutions, has allocated US$32.5 billion for its implementation.
The CAREC 2030 Gender Strategy sets objectives to promote women's equal access to economic opportunities, strengthen their social rights, develop regional networks, and reform policies. Particular attention is paid to increasing women's participation in the digital economy and increasing their access to information and communications technologies.