Female employees of Uzbek Leasing International A.O. participated in a seminar-training titled “The European Approach to Gender Equality, Women’s Entrepreneurship Development, and Financial Inclusion.”

The seminar-training was held from June 1 to June 10, 2026, in Prague, Czech Republic, within the framework of the international project “Research and Professional Exchange” implemented by the European Institute of Applied Science & Management (EIASM).

The seminar covered the following topics:

• Legal and institutional mechanisms for ensuring gender equality in European Union countries;
• Practical experience in increasing women’s economic participation and supporting women-led entrepreneurial initiatives;
• Modern approaches to expanding women’s access to financial services, including leasing products, and promoting financial inclusion;
• The role of international financial institutions in financing small businesses and private entrepreneurs;
• Development of gender-responsive financial products and services;
• The importance of public-private partnerships in fostering women’s entrepreneurship;
• Opportunities for developing specialized leasing and financial products aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs;
• European experience in improving women’s financial literacy;
• The role of financial institutions in promoting inclusive economic growth.

During the seminar, participants were introduced to programs implemented across European countries to promote gender equality and financial inclusion, mechanisms supporting women-owned businesses, and innovative approaches to expanding access to financial services for various population groups. The program also included experience-sharing sessions, discussions, and practical workshops.

The seminar brought together female representatives of commercial banks, leading leasing and consulting companies of Uzbekistan, including Uzbek Leasing International A.O. JSC, Taiba Finance LLC, Benefit Finance LLC and Microcreditbank JSCB .

At Uzbek Leasing International A.O. JSC, particular attention is given to gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and the development of an inclusive corporate culture. The Company consistently implements equal opportunity principles both in its human resources policy and in its client financing activities.

Currently, the Company employs 63 people, of whom 17 employees (27%) are women. Women are represented at various management levels: 1 out of 4 senior executives and 3 out of 10 middle managers are women, demonstrating the Company’s commitment to gender-balanced decision-making.

To further strengthen these principles, the Company has developed and implemented a Gender Policy, first introduced in 2015 and updated in 2021. The policy aims to ensure equal access for women and men to financial services and to maintain balanced gender representation in leadership positions. Its key objectives include promoting women’s employment, supporting work-life balance, ensuring equal access to training and professional development, encouraging women’s participation in decision-making processes, providing legal protection, and increasing gender awareness among employees.

Furthermore, Uzbek Leasing International A.O. considers support for women’s entrepreneurship to be one of its strategic priorities. The Company seeks to expand access for women entrepreneurs to financial instruments, including leasing products, that contribute to business development, job creation, and increased economic participation of women in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

For reference. In 2026, gender equality and women’s economic empowerment became key priorities of Uzbekistan’s state policy. The primary objective is to provide employment and stable income opportunities for 1.5 million women. More than UZS 25 trillion has been allocated for these purposes (National Program for Increasing Women's Participation in All Spheres of the Country's Economic, Political and Social Life for 2022–2026, Presidential Decree No. UP-87 dated March 7, 2022). The government and international organizations continue to focus on expanding financial inclusion and creating jobs at the community level.