The contest "Woman Entrepreneur of the Year - Farah-2018" was held in Tajikistan for the fourth time. Starting in 2012, the National Association of Business Women of Tajikistan (NABWT) identifies and encourages the most successful and motivated women entrepreneurs from all over Tajikistan, and traditionally, Tcell supports the award ceremony.

"Currently, there is a reform of public relations. And the role of women in society is changing radically. More and more women are leading an active lifestyle, are involved in governance and the private sector, are actively helping their country, economy and business to develop and move forward. The "Farah" award and the National Association of Business Women of Tajikistan create a very necessary platform where beginning entrepreneurs can share their experiences and learn the success stories of successful women with an active lifestyle. The idea and the main reason to support the "Farah" award for Tcell is to inspire women, to let them understand their own strengths and capabilities. After all, when everyone, both men and women, work together to create prosperity for themselves, for society, for the country and even for the region - economic and social development is accelerating and comes out to a new level each time," says Ozodkhon Davlatshoev, Tcell General Director.

The competition started in March this year. In the contest, 403 applications were submitted, of which 94 participants passed to the first round. The expert commission thoroughly studied the entrepreneurial activity of each participant: interviews were conducted, trips were made to participating companies in different cities of Tajikistan, so that they could get acquainted with the conduct of business on the ground. As a result, 34 semi-finalists were selected. A documentary film about each participant was shot - each of them has own success story, worthy of respect and recognition.

The best entrepreneurs in their fields in 2018 are:

• Production - Mamadkarimova Lutfiya, Khorog, GBAO

• Agriculture - Tilloeva Zulaykho, Yavan, Khatlon

• Services and catering - Makhmudova Rano, Isfara, Sogd

• Sphere of handicraft - Ashurmatova Karomat, Khujand, Sughd

• The sphere of medical and educational services - Gadoyboeva Umeda, Khujand, Sogd

• Start up - Jumaeva Mavjuda, Shahrituz, Khatlon

The owner of the main prize - grand prix at the rate of 100 thousand somoni was Zulaykho Tilloeva, the head of the dehkan farm Zulayho-2015.

Tcell encouraged the winners, giving them gadgets and communication for doing business - after all, in today's world, no business can exist without an established and reliable communication channel.

The main goal of the competition is to attract public attention to the development of women's entrepreneurship and women's employment issues, to identify leaders among women entrepreneurs and to spread their experience among young women in the country.

The Women Entrepreneur of the Year – Farah-2018 Award is held by the National Association of Businesswomen of Tajikistan (NABWT) with the support of USAID, the Government of the country, and other international organizations and private companies in Tajikistan.

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Tcell is the largest telecommunications company in Tajikistan, the only shareholder of which is the Aga Khan Foundation for Economic Development (AKFED). AKFED is an international development agency dedicated to the promotion of entrepreneurship and the creation of economically sustainable enterprises. AKFED is one of the agencies of the AKDN system - a network of private development agencies that are aimed at improving the opportunities and living conditions of the peoples of the developing world. AKDN agencies work for the public good of all citizens, regardless of their nation, gender or religion. AKDN aims to contribute to the development of economically active, politically sustainable, intellectually diverse and culturally tolerant Tajikistan.