Economic Growth
Business Development
 Georgia’s SMEs Grow with Increased Access to Financing
“We welcome all of those on holiday to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of Bakuriani at our guesthouse,” says Manana Janidze, greeting a visitor at the entrance of the newly upgraded and renovated Hotel X... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Business Development
 Consulting Support Yields Fast Growth for Construction Firm
Today, Tegika Universal, Ltd. is one of the most successful construction companies in Kutaisi, Georgia. Just a year ago, however, it had faced its share of challenges... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Business Development
 Small Business Services Help Launch Raspberry Farm
Musician Beglar Mikeladze didn’t set out to build a business when he planted his first raspberry plants in Adlia, Georgia. “At first I started to grow raspberries just to meet some family needs... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Business Development
 Azerbaijan Rural Enterprise Program Holds Promise of Sustainability
USAID’s Rural Enterprise Competitiveness (RECP) team presented its final results at a reception hosted by the Pragma Corporation on April 7, 2008. USAID Country Coordinator for Azerbaijan Scott Taylor led the presentation... Read More ...
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 Expanding International Markets for Georgian Artisans
Last summer, the Georgia Textile Group (GTG) participated in the 4th Annual Santa Fe International Folk Art Market with support from the Crafts Center at the USAID–funded Georgia Employment and Infrastructure Initiative (GEII) and the Ramsay Merriam Fund... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Business Development
 Guria Farmers Establish Links with Lithuanian Businesses
USAID works with farmers and farming communities throughout Georgia to identify alternative export markets and establish business-to-business linkages... Read More ...
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 Georgian Farmers Combine Efforts to Generate Viable Incomes
“In strength there is unity.” Koba Tsertsvadze, a 41-year-old farmer from the village of Tkhinvali in Guria addressed visitors with these words as he and other farmers fenced plots of land on a tea plantation in his village... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Business Development
 BiH Tourism Exhibit Wows Visitors at World Fair
When visitors to the world’s largest tourism fair arrived at the booth for Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), they didn’t find just the standard photos and brochures. Instead, they were invited to take a stroll across the country... Read More ...
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 Willingness to Pay for Development Signals Sustainability
Sustainability is the ultimate goal of any technical assistance project. There are various criteria to determine whether a project has been able to survive without USAID or other donor funding... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Business Development
 Exchange Provides Hotelier with Knowledge to Expand
Gogi Gogitidze, the owner of a small hotel in the seaside town of Kobuleti, Georgia credits USAID’s Community Connections (CC) Exchange Program with increasing the scope of his business... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Business Development
 Project Helps Over 500 Armenian SMEs Generate Jobs, Sales
On December 3, 2007, the USAID Armenia Agribusiness Small and Medium Enterprise Market Development Project (ASME) hosted an open house event in Yerevan to celebrate the project’s seventh anniversary... Read More ...
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 Quality Products Open New Markets for Albanian Herb Exporters
Business could not be better for Albanian businessman Xhevit Hysenaj, owner of the Xherdo Herb and Spice Essences Company, based in Skrapar... Read More ...
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 Competitveness Project Builds Armenia’s IT Sector
Through its Competitive Armenian Private Sector (CAPS) Program, USAID has been fostering the development of the Information Technology (IT) cluster in Armenia by assisting businesses with improving the quality and productivity of their output... Read More ...
Related Items: Armenia, Business Development
 Successful Rural Business Development Project Draws to Close
On October 31, 2007, USAID hosted a reception in Baku to mark the culmination of its Azerbaijan Business Assistance (ABAD) program, which focused on supporting the growth of rural economic development in targeted regions of Azerbaijan... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Business Development
 ABAD Facilitates Stable Supply Chain Linkages through its Work with Canneries
USAID’s Azerbaijan Business Assistance and Development (ABAD) program has worked with a number of canneries throughout Azerbaijan to improve the efficiency of the supply chain... Read More ...
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 Key Inspections Law Provisions Receive Green Light
The Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 18, 2007 approved the Provision on Realization of the Law “On Procedure for Conducting Inspections of Businesses,” developed with USAID support... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Business Development
 Reforms Save Kazakhstani Business More than $130M
Changes in Kazakhstan’s “Law On Government Procurement,” introduced with assistance from the USAID Business Environment Improvement Project (BEI), will produce millions of dollars in savings for local businesses... Read More ...
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 Georgian Delicacies Debut at 2007 Fancy Food Show
Until now, American consumers may have known little about Georgia, and less about the country’s foods and wines. Yet Georgian exporters are hopeful that the U.S. market—where consumers are interested in exploring new products... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Business Development
 USAID, Divac Teams Up To Promote Town’s Investment Potential
Vlade Divac officially retired from professional basketball in a celebration the size of which the 15,000 residents of his hometown of Prijepolje had never seen. For one day, the population of Prijepolje doubled with a star-studded list of celebrities... Read More ...
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 Business Development Has No Ethnic Boundaries in Kosovo
A freezing and cold storage facility was officially opened by Tina Kaidanow, U.S. Office in Pristina Chief of Mission, and Stanko Jokovljevic, Mayor of Shtrpce/Strpce, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 19, 2007... Read More ...
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 Egyptian Reformers Learn from Moldova's Success
Fifteen Egyptian government officials, representing eight different ministries, visited Moldova on a study tour to learn about the success of its “guillotine approach” to reform that was led by the USAID BIZPRO Project... Read More ...
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 Tajik Dairy Farms Improve Productivity
The 500 dairy farmers who have received loans and technical assistance from the USAID AgFin+ project implemented by DAI have significantly increased their productivity and ability to compete with the milk processing companies of Central Asia... Read More ...
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 Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Awards USAID Project
Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev presented an honorary award to the USAID Business Environment Improvement Project on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade... Read More ...
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 USAID Assistance Supports Growth of Albanian Businesses
On October 6, 2007, Dr. Douglas Menarchik, USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia visited the TONA CO. Meat Processing in Korca, Albania and met with the owner, Nikolla Tona... Read More ...
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 Moldovan Wines Make a Splash on the International Scene
Moldova, a country blessed with rich soil, good climate and located at the same latitude as the most famous wine regions in France, remains virtually unknown internationally for its wines... Read More ...
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 $10M USAID Program to Improve Farmers’ Competitiveness
On October 5, 2007 USAID launched the new five-year, $10 million Albanian Agriculture Competitiveness (AAC) Program in Korca, where one of the program’s regional offices will be located... Read More ...
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 Remote U.S., Russian Cities Linked for Economic Progress
The USAID-funded CityLinks Alaska-Russian Far East (RFE) Partnership held a best practices symposium August 3–5, 2007 in Vladivostok to mark the culmination of the two-year program... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Business Development
 Training Helps Beekeeper Succeed, Plan to Breed
Beekeeping in Azerbaijan dates back to historic times. Despite long years of involvement in this particular area of agriculture, modern-day beekeeping is beset by obstacles that slow the development of this potential sector... Read More ...
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 U.S. Introduces $20M Guarantee Program for Macedonia’s SMEs
For the first time, USAID has introduced two Development Credit Authority (DCA) Loan Portfolio Guarantees totalling US$20 million to support the expansion of small and medium enterprises (SME), energy efficiency... Read More ...
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 USAID Provides Drought Relief for Moldova’s Farmers
Drought-stricken farmers across Moldova received critically needed seeds for fall planting as part of immediate USAID assistance valued at $350,000 to help alleviate the consequences of this summer’s drought on small-scale growers... Read More ...
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 Vocational Training Opens Doors for Chechen Entrepreneur
In Chechnya they say “Every man wants to receive food from a beautiful hand” – and so the logic follows that a good manicurist will always have work... Read More ...
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 Moldovan Fashion Maven Takes On Milan
Georgeta Ieahia grew up wanting to be a clothing designer. At age 17, she had her first client. Encouraged by her early success, Georgeta left her native Moldova to attend the London College of Fashion... Read More ...
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 Additional Support to Strengthen Supply Chain Linkages
On July 12 the USAID-supported Azerbaijan Business Assistance and Development Program (ABAD) organized another Proper Sugar Beet Cultivation workshop, as part of continuing collaboration with the Azerbaijan Sugar Production Union... Read More ...
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 Georgia Celebrates Start of Industrial Cheese Production
The opening of two modern cheese plants in the adjacent villages of Orlovka and Spasovka on June 21 turned into a real celebration for farmers in Georgia’s Javakheti region. For them, the event not only marks the first successful attempt... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Business Development
 Georgian Vegetable Growers Cultivate Profits
David Ebanoidze estimates his income has grown by about 60 percent since he first met with the USAID-supported AgVANTAGE project. With assistance from AgVANTAGE, his farm near the town of Marneuli has undergone radical changes... Read More ...
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 Bumper Crop, USAID Support Gives Exporter Entrée To U.K. Market
Dragi Stojmirovski has never seen so many watermelons—it has been a bumper year for the crop in the Balkans. Unfortunately, the resulting glut has led to plummeting melon prices and fruit lays rotting in their fields... Read More ...
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 Senior U.S. Official Visits Turkmenistan Model Community
In June, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Evan A. Feigenbaum met with the USAID-supported community of Saglyk, in the Ahal Region, as part of a four-day official visit to Turkmenistan... Read More ...
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 Internship Leads to Better Service in Georgia’s Banking Sector
Clients of TBC Bank in Georgia now have better access to information thanks to Nino Gachechiladze’s participation in the USAID’s Community Connections (CC) Business program... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Business Development
 USAID Helps Serbian Community Achieve Economic Growth
While on a visit to USAID missions in the Balkans, USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia Dr. Douglas Menarchik officially opened a reconstructed bridge and road project in the municipality of Arilje, in western Serbia... Read More ...
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 Economic Growth Key Theme of Menarchik's Moldova Visit
In May 2007, USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia Dr. Douglas Menarchik traveled to Moldova as part of his visit to the region. While in Chisinau, Menarchik met with high-ranking Moldovan officials... Read More ...
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 Family Business Lauded as Serbia’s Micro-Enterprise of the Year
The idyllic scenery surrounding the river Pčinja where the town of Trgovište is situated provides far more than just beautiful views. The Stošić family has long known that the plants of the forest yield many sought-after natural products... Read More ...
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 Georgia Finds Alternate Use for Abandoned Tea Land
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia inherited over 62,000 hectares of unused tea land, the majority of which remains abandoned and overgrown... Read More ...
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 Marketing Tools Are Company’s Best Friend
When establishing the new company Safari to produce cardboard packaging, Executive Director Nadir Huseynov did not expect to have trouble identifying buyers. In fact, there were a number of reasons that he anticipated a viable long term future... Read More ...
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 Farmers, Machinery Producers Learn About Quality Equipment
On June 7, Jayil Farm in Alekseevka village became the stage for Kyrgyzstan’s first outdoor agricultural equipment show. The initiative was organized by the USAID-funded Kyrgyz Agro-Input Enterprise Development Project... Read More ...
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 Changing Market Poses Challenge for Top Resort
Since Roman troops pitched their tents here in the first century, the hot springs of Vrnjačka Banja have attracted generations of road-weary travelers. By modern times, Vrnjačka Banja had become one of Serbia’s best known spas... Read More ...
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 Uzbek Farmers Learn New Water Management Techniques
Recently, farmers from various water user associations in Bukhara and Samarkand regions spent three weeks learning about water management and farming at the University of Alabama – Huntsville... Read More ...
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 Sugar Beets Hold Promise for Azerbaijan’s Remote Villages
In June 2007, USAID’s Azerbaijan Business Assistance and Development (ABAD) program, in collaboration with the Azerbaijan Sugar Production Union, a branch of Azersun Holding, organized a workshop for farmers on sugar beet cultivation... Read More ...
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 Artisans Create International Demand for Macedonian Handicrafts
Spasika Tasevska has been an inspiration and a driving force for a group of 240 women and 34 teenagers from the town of Krusevo in her endeavor to turn her ideas, enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit into projects... Read More ...
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 Exchange Cultivates Farmer’s Interest in Organic Produce
Shohrat Mammadov, Director of Shabran LTD, gained a larger market share by expanding his business to meet a growing demand for organic produce in Azerbaijan. The idea came about as a result of Mammadov’s experience... Read More ...
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 International Basketball Star, USAID Team Up to Help Village
Residents of Riđica decided almost two years ago to take their destiny into their own hands and improve their economic lot through advanced agricultural production... Read More ...
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 U.S. – Central Asia Education Foundation Launched
In June 2007, the U.S.-Central Asia Education Foundation announced commencement of operations and the establishment of programs to support business and economics education in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan... Read More ...
Related Items: Central Asian Republics, Education
 E-commerce Find Its Place in Central Asia
Over 900 trade deals valued at more than $126 million have been facilitated through a trade portal, started by a UASID project in 2002. The portal www.smetradecenter.net was launched through the USAID Enterprise Development Project... Read More ...
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 British Tour Agents Captivated by Bosnia-Herzegovina
"I am fascinated with what I have seen and tried while I was here. My agency will do our best to include your country in our tourist offer," exclaimed UK tourist agent Allison White during her first visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH)... Read More ...
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 Agribusiness Center Helps Company Boost Production, Sales
One of Azerbaijan’s leading fruits and vegetable processing companies turned to the USAID-supported Azerbaijan Agribusiness Center over two years ago for help... Read More ...
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 Kazakhstan Participates in the First GEM Study in Central Asia
This year Kazakhstan joins over 40 middle- and high-income countries worldwide as a site of the prestigious Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) survey of entrepreneurial activity... Read More ...
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 Forum Raises Development Questions for Northern Azerbaijan
USAID’s Azerbaijan Business Assistance and Development Program (ABAD), in cooperation with the local department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Economic Development, organized a business forum... Read More ...
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 Gov’t, Business Leaders Seek to Improve Kazakhstan’s Competitiveness
In April 2007, USAID’s Regional Competitiveness Initiative and its Kazakhstan Small Business Development Project jointly organized an Economic Growth and Competitiveness Forum to generate discussion among government and business representatives... Read More ...
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 U.S. Supports Azerbaijan’s WTO Accession Process
USAID hosted a reception in cooperation with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Development and Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan to raise public awareness of the importance of World Trade Organization (WTO) accession... Read More ...
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 Hasilli Farm Representatives Share Experience with Other Farmers
The USAID-funded Azerbaijan Business Assistance and Development Program (ABAD), in cooperation with the executive committee of the local agricultural department, organized a Community Day at Hasilli Farm in Jalilabad... Read More ...
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 Entrepreneurs Promote Goods at Baku Food Industry Exhibition
From May 23–25, program staff and four clients from the USAID-funded Azerbaijan Business Assistance and Development Program (ABAD) attended the Food Industry Exhibition in Baku to share program information... Read More ...
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 Microfinance Program Disbursements Hits $200 Million Mark
The Micro and Small Enterprise Finance Facility Program was established in Kyrgyzstan in 2002 by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development with support from USAID and other international organizations... Read More ...
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 Mini-Cheese Factory Becomes A Model Enterprise
Patara Khanchali is a small, mountainous village in the district of Ninotsminda, Samtskhe-Javakheti region, situated on the bank of Lake Khanchali. Cattle breeding and potato growing comprise the main agricultural activities undertaken by the community residents... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Business Development
 Premium Green Tea to Debut in Georgia, Export Markets
Due to Georgia’s subtropical climate, local tea has a special taste and characteristics. During the Soviet period, tea was one of the major crops grown in the Imereti region and large quantities were exported to the Soviet Union... Read More ...
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 Macedonian Entrepreneurs Create 1,000 New Jobs
Over 1,000 new jobs and an estimated $15 million in additional exports are the result of a USAID-supported project in Macedonia. Six new companies—called “e-BIZ centers”—which provide high tech services... Read More ...
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 Azerbaijani Communities Host National War College Delegation
In April 2007, Zardabi communities in Guba district, northern Azerbaijan hosted a delegation from the National War College, a prestigious leadership training program for American military and civilian leaders... Read More ...
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 USAID Specialists Nurture Growth of Rural Businesses
Through USAID’s Rural Enterprise Competitiveness project, a team from the Azerbaijan Agribusiness Center (AAC) has worked to help a local fruit and vegetable processor become more modern and efficient, and to increase sales... Read More ...
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 Product Marketing Helps Furniture Maker Generate Capital for Growth
In 2004, the current owner purchased the land with the intention of returning it to its former purpose. He made some repairs and installed some equipment and the company began making chairs, tables and beds... Read More ...
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 USAID-Supported Organization Takes Lead in Agricultural Law Public
Discussions
Following the presidential elections in February, Turkmenistan’s new government announced plans for agricultural sector reforms and legal initiatives. In response, the USAID-supported Ilkinjiler Farmers’ Association immediately convened... Read More ...
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 New Law on Business Inspections to Empower Entrepreneurs
On March 27, the Kyrgyz Parliament approved the Law on Inspections of Businesses, marking an important improvement for the Kyrgyz business community. This law, drafted by the USAID Commercial Law Project... Read More ...
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 Kazakhstan Simplifies Travel Service Certification
The Kazakhstan Tourism Association, with support from two USAID projects, persuaded the lawmakers to cancel the mandatory certification of services related to booking and selling tickets for passenger and cargo air transportation... Read More ...
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 Rural Juice Maker Boosts Exports
USAID’s Azerbaijan Agribusiness Center (AAC) Specialist Mirnail Mirsalahov was recently contacted by a rural beverage producer for help with entering the international health juice market... Read More ...
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 Electricity Quadruples Sales for Local Flour Mill
Ilyas Jafarov, owner of the only flour mill in the Jafarhanli village of Jalilabad, Azerbaijan, has provided three primary services to surrounding farmers for nearly a decade: flour milling, wheat and barley seed cleaning, and mixed feed production... Read More ...
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 Expert Advice Yields Big Profits for Tomato Processor
By sharing technical and marketing expertise, USAID’s Azerbaijan Agribusiness Center (AAC) has helped scores of rural producers and processors dramatically increase their sales. This is one story... Read More ...
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 Study Tour Jumpstarts Kyrgyz Craftsmen Association
Upon return from their USAID-sponsored Community Connections study tour in the U.S., 10 female artisans organized an association of craftsmen of Naryn and Issykkul Oblasts, which they named “NAISK – Ohio” in honor of their site visit... Read More ...
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 Roundtable on Oil Revenues and State Expenditures
On April 5, the Eurasia Foundation and the Entrepreneurship Development Foundation held a one-day, USAID-supported roundtable on “Oil Revenues and State Expenditures” to examine transparency and efficiency... Read More ...
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 Veterinarian Network Improves Cattle-Breeding in Southern Kyrgyzstan
On January 31, USAID, Mercy Corps, and local government representatives opened the Veterinary Service and Artificial Insemination Center in Nookat, Osh Oblast... Read More ...
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 Donji Miholjac Experiences Economic Revival
In Donji Miholjac, a mid-sized town located along the Hungarian border in eastern Croatia, high unemployment and a poor business climate depressed incomes for many years... Read More ...
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 Azerbaijan Imports Irrigations Innovations from Israel
Twenty-three Azerbaijani nationals traveled to Israel March 4-18 to participate in a USAID-funded course, “Irrigation Systems for Intensive Crop Production,” delivered in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs... Read More ...
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 Water Program Increases Farmer Profits by $1M
Tajik farmers participating in the USAID-funded Water User Association Support Project (WUASP) increased their profitability by an estimated $1 million from their 6,300 hectares of irrigated farm land in 2006... Read More ...
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 USAID Supports a Azerbaijani Processor to Expand Product Line
In its first year of operation, a fruit and vegetable company processed 400 tons of pickled cucumber and purchased 50 tons of aseptic tomato paste from a large canning factory in the area for repackaging into 720 gram jars... Read More ...
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 Broad Exposure Yields Big Sales for Small Azerbaijani Jam Maker
A small jam maker and hazelnut processor in northwest Azerbaijan first approached USAID for help in building its business back in 2004. The company relied on manual production carried out by just 25 employees... Read More ...
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 Republika Srpska Enacts Business-Friendly Reforms
Starting a business in Republika Srpska (RS) now takes far less time than it used to thanks to the efforts of USAID’s Streamlining Permits and Inspection Regimes Activity (SPIRA)... Read More ...
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 Albanian Processor Finds Recipe for Success
Eight years ago, the four Kimça brothers, operated a small meat grinding and sausage making business in the northern Albanian city of Shkodra. Today, their business, Meat Master, is one of Albania’s leading meat processing companies... Read More ...
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 Peace Building in an Apple Orchard
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Georgia has experienced two ethnic conflicts over territory. Both have been “frozen” for over a decade and remain unresolved. In the case of the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict, which was fought from 1991-1992... Read More ...
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 USAID Helps Furniture Maker Market Product, Find Suppliers
Since beginning operations in 1999, a modern furniture maker in Bilesuvar, central Azerbaijan, has been specializing in the manufacture of furniture that comply with European standards and tastes... Read More ...
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 Local Bread Producer Sees Sales Rise
In recent years, a small bread producer in Goranboy, central Azerbaijan, has lost market share because of its inability to keep pace with the changing preferences of consumers... Read More ...
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 USAID Helps Sunflower Processor Boost Sales, Expand Operations
USAID’s Azerbaijan Agribusiness Center (AAC) Account Manager Elvin Agayev began working a small, rural-based processor of sunflower products – oil, cakes, and seeds – in December 2005... Read More ...
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 Alumnae Use Handicraft Businesses to Help Others Succeed
In December, USAID Community Connections Handicraft Production and Marketing Exchange alumnae Humaya Mammadova and Gulshan Aliyeva opened two new workshops in Quba (north) and Fuzuli (central Azerbaijan)... Read More ...
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 Kazakhstan Joins Global Entrepreneurship Monitoring Consortium
With support from USAID’s Kazakhstan Small Business Development (KSBD) project, in January 2007, the Innovative Eurasia University of Pavlodar was selected to perform a complete Global Entrepreneuship Monitoring (GEM)... Read More ...
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 Saakashvili Says Greens Packaging Is Georgia’s Business Card
Fresh herbs are one of the major export crops grown in Western Georgia, and constitute the primary source of income for some 7,000 families. Prior to the Russian Embargo on Georgian agricultural products... Read More ...
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 Targeted Strategy Leads to Sparkling Success
Ukraine’s glass industry may be on the verge of a dynamic new chapter in its development if the results achieved by one major glass producer at a recent European trade fair are any indication... Read More ...
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 Agro-Business Center Helps Beverage Producer Boost Sales
A local beverage producer which had achieved limited success across Azerbaijan turned to the USAID-funded Azerbaijan Agro-Business Center (AAC) for help in penetrating Ganja, the second largest market in the country... Read More ...
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 Radio Station Bridges Ethnic Divide
In 1997, Amna Popovac was having coffee with some journalist friends in Mostar, a city divided between Catholic Croats in the west and Muslim Bosniaks in the east... Read More ...
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 Annual Conference Bears Fruit for Farmers
The 3rd Annual Fruits and Vegetables Conference and Exhibition, sponsored by USAID’s Agricultural Marketing Project (AMP), was held in Kyiv on December 5-6... Read More ...
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 Securing the Future of Media Support
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) after a devastating ethnic conflict ended in 1995. Since then, stability has gradually returned, and donors are turning their attention to other regions in need... Read More ...
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 Kazakhstan’s Farmers Diversify Crops, Increase Profit
In 2006, farmers who received support from USAID’s Water Users Associations Assistance Program (WUAAP) achieved increased productivity at a level three times greater than the national average... Read More ...
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 Groomed for Success
Confidence breeds success and, in turn, can help a business thrive. Sevinj Aliyeva, owner of a beauty salon in Gazakh, a small town in north-western Azerbaijan, knows this firsthand... Read More ...
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 Kazakh Regional Agriculture Trade Show a Big Hit
USAID’s Water Users Associations Assistance Program (WUAAP), in partnership with SodBi Business Incubator and the Southern Kazakhstan Regional Government, held an agricultural
trade show in the regional capital – Shymkent... Read More ...
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 Farmer-to-Farmer Program Yields Cross-Cultural Collaboration
USAID’s Farmer-to-Farmer (FtF) Program operates in 40+ countries. It provides volunteers to help not just farmers, but agribusinesses and their supporting organizations to promote sustainable improvements in food processing, production, and marketing... Read More ...
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 New Bazaar to Increase Local Economic Opportunities
Tavildara’s first bazaar, built with support from USAID’s Tajikistan Conflict Prevention Project, officially opened on September 3... Read More ...
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 Estonia Shares Development Lessons with New EU Countries
From October 8-15, a group of local development experts from eight Bulgarian municipalities traveled to Estonia for training on Improving the Economic Development Environment of Local Communities... Read More ...
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 Turkmen/Uzbek Farmer Exchange Boosts Quality, Production
In September 2006, six leading Turkmen greenhouse growers and greenhouse input suppliers traveled to Uzbekistan to meet growers from the eastern part of that country... Read More ...
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 Tea, Herbs Mean Big Business for BiH
Visitors to Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) learn quickly that its citizens are great fans of herbal remedies. In fact, more than 100,000 families throughout the country collect and grow herbal plants... Read More ...
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 Collaboration Creates 100+ New Jobs for Croatia
Just five years ago, the Donji Miholjac area, located in eastern Croatia along the Hungarian border, suffered from high unemployment and a poor entrepreneurial climate... Read More ...
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 Produce Prices at a Farmer’s Fingertips
Information is money. Easy-to-use technology can mean better prices for agricultural producers. In agriculture, wholesale buyers know at what prices they can sell produce for at terminal markets... Read More ...
Related Items: Serbia, Business Development
 Ethno-Network Strives to Make Handicraft Production Profitable
Until recently, those looking for well-made, traditional handicrafts in Serbia had to look pretty hard. Good quality products were being made but only shoppers in-the-know could easily find them... Read More ...
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 Ready for Business, Serbia Redefines its Image
You can't export if people are afraid to do business with you. This is a problem that has faced Serbia. Tasked with helping Serbian companies increase revenues and create jobs... Read More ...
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 Entrepreneurship Center to Strengthen Business Practices in Kazakhstan
In May, USAID’s Business and Economics Education Project (B&EE) helped open the Kazakhstan-American Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (KACEBI) at the Western-Kazakhstan Institute of Languages and Management “Evrazia”... Read More ...
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 Common Standards Bring Industry Together
In industry, adhering to standards means getting the service or product exactly as you expected it. Not so long ago, when a company placed an order with Ukrainian apparel factory... Read More ...
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 Cruise Ship Tourism Returns to Ukraine
When a cruise ship visits a port, it means money. The boat’s passengers spend their cash in the port and its owners buy local port services... Read More ...
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 From Banana Boxes to Brand Recognition
Produce brand names often arise from the region where the commodity being branded is produced. Such is the case with Crimean table grapes, which enjoy brand recognition with Ukrainians... Read More ...
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 Ukraine Fashion Event Gathers Designers, Manufacturers
What Westerners consider a fashion industry – creative designers, skilled manufacturers who translate their visions into well-made clothes, and a developed distribution network – didn’t exist in Ukraine for a long time... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Business Development
 Ukrainian Tourism Says Goodbye to the Dead Season
Larissa Kazachenko is a successful business woman with 15 years of experience in the tourism business. Her agency, Southern Tour, opened in 1996, specializes in cultural and historic tourism... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Business Development
 USAID’s Grants Restore Looted Businesses in Bishkek
In March 2006, USAID completed its six-month Looted Business Loan Support Program (LBLS) that facilitated the recovery of businesses that were either looted or suffered the consequences of looting... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Business Development
 Georgia Opens for Business
When American investor Matt Bartelsian shared his plans to open a new juice factory overseas, a colleague urged him to contact the Georgian government’s new business information center... Read More ...
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 USAID to Help Kyrgyz Government Conduct Land Reform Pilot
On June 1st, the Government of Kyrgyzstan approved a list of ten pilot communities to test new principles for management and use of land contained in the Land Redistribution Fund... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Business Development
 Social Partnership Looks to Replicate Russian Success in Ukraine
From June 14th – 16th, representatives from USAID/Russia, USAID/Ukraine, and from USAID/Russia’s implementing partners participated in the annual meeting of the Coordination Council on Social Partnership of the SUAL Company... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Ukraine, Business Development
 No Ordinary Ribbon Cutting: Ethno Evening Highlights Work of Serbian Artists
“An Evening with the Ethno-Network” in Belgrade gave a chance for artisans from around Serbia to promote traditional, handcrafted products. The highlight of the June 29th event, which gathered several hundred artists, fashion designers, government officials and diplomats... Read More ...
Related Items: Serbia, Business Development
 Organic Buckwheat Wins New Markets
Samir Mehonic and Vesna Latifovic were in a unique position. Their organic buckwheat products had just won the “Golden Rose” prize for best new product of the year... Read More ...
Related Items: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Business Development
 Textile Sector Reaps Benefits of Cooperation
For many Ukrainian apparel manufacturers, assembling clothes for foreign companies under a “cut-and-make” scheme is a way to survive while their own brands develop... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Business Development
 USAID-supported Economic Opportunity Center in Tajikistan Celebrates its
One-Year Anniversary
The Isfara City Economic Opportunity Center, established by the USAID Alternatives to Conflict in Tajikistan (ACT) Project, celebrated its one-year anniversary this month... Read More ...
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 Dutch Tourists Plan Summer Holidays in BiH
For the first time, a Dutch tourism agency will include excursions to BiH as part of its summer tour offerings... Read More ...
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 Kosovo Cheese Makers Taste Success
A cheese-tasting event in Gjakove/Djakovica in April produced immediate orders for two Kosovo dairy processors... Read More ...
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 Some Find Farm Business Model Best Tool for Success
Failing to plan is planning to fail” is a popular saying. Unfortunately, many tradition-bound farmers in Ukraine have never paid much attention to planning... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Business Development
 Ukrainian Farmers Learn to Master Loans
If you have never applied for a loan, it is probably only a matter of time before you do. Personal and commercial bank loans, commonly used by most everybody in the United States and Europe... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Business Development
 Kyrgyzstan Holds First Privately-Organized Textile Trade Fair
From March 1-7, 2006, the Association of Light Industry “LEGPROM,” with USAID support, held the first international textile trade fair organized by a private entity in Kyrgyzstan... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Business Development
 Gates Lends Support to Croatia’s IT Efforts
Technology is a driving force in business and everyday life, said Bill Gates, Microsoft President in a special statement for Croatian Television... Read More ...
Related Items: Croatia, Business Development
 Bosnian Refugee Family Begins Making Restaurant Dream a Reality
Robert and Sonja Hadzic, a mixed-marriage refugee family from Trebinje, Bosnia, came to Serbia with only a few bags of their most precious personal belongings... Read More ...
Related Items: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Business Development
 Montenegrin Families Thrive on Small Business Opportunities
After losing their jobs at a state-owned company in the Montenegrin coastal city of Bar, Julija Skretovic, her husband, Halil, and their 19-year-old unemployed son, faced serious economic hardship... Read More ...
Related Items: Montenegro, Business Development
 Opportunity Bank Helps Strengthen Montenegro’s Private Sector
Mali Medo is Montenegro's only children's clothing manufacturing firm. What began as a husband-and-wife entrepreneurial startup has grown considerably... Read More ...
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 First Luxury Chocolate from Serbia Enters World Markets
In December 2005, Belgrade chocolate maker Mirjana Kostic formally launched Adoré Chocolat, Serbia's first luxury chocolate brand... Read More ...
Related Items: Serbia, Business Development
 Success in Business Breeds Success in Community Service
The name “Lyudmyla” can be translated from Ukrainian as a one who is “dear to people.” Lyudmila Sobol from Khudyaki village, Cherkasy oblast, mirrors the name fully... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Business Development
 USAID Micro-Grants Help Serbia’s Vulnerable Residents
In late 2004 a special project "Start Your Own Business" was launched as part of the Community Revitalization through Democratic Action (CRDA) program... Read More ...
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 Tajik Firm Finds Buyers in Afghanistan
Participation in the Rebuild Afghanistan Exhibition was an excellent investment for Tajik company Doro, a client of the USAID Enterprise Development Project (EDP) implemented by Pragma... Read More ...
Related Items: Tajikistan, Business Development
 Villagers Rejuvenate Local Food Production in Southwestern Montenegro
The Montenegrin region of Katunska Nahija, with the villages Cevo, Njegusi, and Tresnjevo, is well-known for its traditional production of ham, dried meat, and cheese... Read More ...
Related Items: Montenegro, Business Development
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