Zabala Innovation supports the development of rural start-ups in Uzbekistan

Over the next two years, Zabala Innovation will support the Ministry of Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan (through its collaboration with the World Bank) in the implementation of a project that foresees the implementation of an acceleration programme for innovative companies with high potential in the Fergana Valley.

The main objective of this initiative is to support the expansion of entrepreneurship in rural Uzbekistan and job creation in the region. This will encourage the participation of rural entrepreneurs in innovation activities, developing more entrepreneurial skills among young people, accelerating the start-up of innovative start-ups, and sharing the results of scientific and technological research with commercial potential to create new businesses and jobs in the Fergana Valley.

Uzbekistan, immense potential for economic development

The Fergana Valley covers an area consisting of three provinces, Andijan, Fergana and Namangan. Between them there are fourteen million inhabitants, a high percentage of whom are low-income earners.

Nevertheless, the Fergana Valley has great potential for economic development for several reasons: it currently concentrates about a third of the economically active population; it has a developed agricultural sector; it has some of the most fertile land in the country; it has the necessary infrastructure; and it is close to the most important and populated cities in the country.

Our work in Uzbekistan

Our international strategic consultancy team, together with two other technical and local partners, will work to encourage the participation of rural entrepreneurs and start-ups in highly innovative business activities, with a specific focus on two of the valley’s driving economic sectors: agriculture and engineering.

In doing so, the technical assistance team will develop two activities:

• Capacity building support to government agencies in the provision of incubation/acceleration services to young entrepreneurs and start-ups.
• Advice and mentoring to most start-ups with high development potential.

By combining these two types of interventions, Zabala Innovation will help to build a sustainable framework for start-up support (also beyond the project implementation period) and as a result, stimulate the growth of skilled employment in the most promising sectors with high technological impact.

The presence of Zabala Innovation in international cooperation projects with multilateral donors such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank reinforces this new initiative, another example of the development of cooperation projects conducted by our company outside Europe.