Women entrepreneurs from Turkmenistan took part in the international exhibitions Maison & Objet and Who’s Next Paris, held in Paris from 15 to 19 January. The visit was organised under the project “Turkmenistan: Enhancing Trade Resilience and Integration,” implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) with funding from the European Union.

Participation in the exhibitions enabled the Turkmen entrepreneurs to gain exposure to international experience, explore current trends in fashion, design and interior decor, and establish professional contacts with representatives of creative industries from different countries. Maison & Objet took place from 15 to 19 January at Paris Nord Villepinte, while Who’s Next was held from 17 to 19 January at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. Both exhibitions attracted an international community of industry professionals.

During the visit, the Turkmen participants, including representatives of the garment ateliers Binaym, Shekil Studio/Ensi, AYM (AYMAHRI), as well as Mukaddes Ibragimova, familiarised themselves with stand presentation practices, export readiness and packaging requirements. They also held networking meetings to establish contacts and conducted a preliminary assessment of interest from potential clients, and collected information on quality standards, certification and logistics requirements.

“Running a business as a woman is not easy, especially in the creative sector. Participation in international exhibitions gave us the opportunity to see how companies operate in other countries, exchange experiences and understand which approaches we can apply in our own businesses,” said Nurjahan Tachmyradova, founder of the AYM brand.

“We attended the exhibitions in Paris to learn and expand our professional network. Such exhibitions help to better understand the requirements of international markets and identify potential opportunities for future cooperation,” emphasised Shasenem Garlyyeva, founder of the Unique Camel Wool brand.

With the support of the project, the visit served as a bridge between the creative potential of the Turkmen participants and the requirements of the European market. The insights gained and contacts established will form the basis for further work on product improvement and the development of professional partnerships.

About the project “Turkmenistan: Enhancing Trade Resilience and Integration”

The ITC project “Turkmenistan: Enhancing Trade Resilience and Integration,” funded by the European Union, aims to promote economic development and decent work in Turkmenistan by improving the business climate and enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs. This initiative will support Turkmenistan's engagement in regional and global trade, including with the European Union.