The development of any state or society is based on a number of factors. In this process, the issue of women, their participation in social and political relations, and the fact that their rights and freedoms are ensured are important indicators of the development of states and democracy. Indeed, a woman's role in the life of society has always been an important criterion. Our guest from Kyrgyzstan is Mendaiym Suyunbay qizi, a young Kyrgyz businesswoman. She talks about her personal business and experiences in her own language.

In September 2022, I started my own private business in Osh called "Uzgen Rice Products." I run this business with my family members. It was a bit difficult at first. Then, as experience is gained, the work seems to get easier.

The difference between the products I make and other products is that you won't find them everywhere. I make plain rice cakes, rice porridge, and tea.

The idea of starting this business came to me in 2020, when I was working with the Japanese. Since then, I have been working with the four-year "Youth Employment and Community Support Program" project of the World Bank under the working name "Araketchil".

This project has established close cooperation with Japan. And for a while, I learned how to make various rice products from the Japanese. This process was so interesting that I immediately decided to study it thoroughly and turn it into a business.

Rice has been cultivated in Japan for centuries. The Japanese prepare many dishes from it, because they know how useful this product is. The Japanese say, "Rice is the basis of good food." And it is impossible not to agree with this statement.

In the Uzgen district, where I was born and live, mainly rice is grown. 30 percent of the cultivated crop is made of wheat. I started to make a product like the Japanese taught me to use a chaff, which is a little cheaper than rice. At first, my family members helped me invest in my business.

I made a deal with a Japanese eco-friendly store to sell my products. The rice teas I made started to sell in local Japanese shops. My business started to develop. The demand has also increased, but I was not able to provide supply on time. I understood that I need a special equipment.

I started thinking about expanding the business based on the demand. I looked for ways to get a grant or loan. So I sat down and wrote a business plan. Then I submitted my business plan to the "Youth of OSh" public association and the "Araketchil" project to receive a grant.

At the end of 2022, both organizations informed me that they would give me a grant. I was very happy. Thus, I won equipment worth 81,000 soms from the "Youth of Osh" project and grant equipment worth 3,000 US dollars from the "Araketchil" project.

I advertise my products on social networks. My sister helps me run the business. With her support, our products are now sold at the "OVOP" business center in Bishkek.

Recently, I traveled to Uzbekistan for 3 days as part of the joint project "Shared prosperity through cooperation in border regions of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan" implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

I made a lot of new acquaintances in Uzbekistan. Although for a short time, I had the opportunity to get acquainted with the practice of doing business in Uzbekistan. Our delegation mainly got acquainted with the activities of large companies. During face-to-face meetings with local young entrepreneurs, I became interested in the possibility of selling my products in Uzbekistan. Of course, good intentions are half the battle. I have plans to import my products in the future.