What advice do millionaires give to young entrepreneurs?

On October 21 this year, the “Business Port” project was launched at the Hilton Hotel in Tashkent, bringing together entrepreneurs of various levels from across Uzbekistan. The name “Port” is symbolic — some arrive, some depart, but the key is that business never sinks.

Within the framework of “Business Port,” entrepreneurs will receive practical consultations in the fields of law, finance, taxation, banking, intellectual property, marketing and PR, international relations, human resources, and digitalization. The initiative also aims to create a database of qualified specialists in these areas.

More than 250 business entities participating in the event have created nearly 267,000 jobs and exported local products worth 1.7 billion dollars. Their total trade turnover exceeds 192 trillion soums. In 2024, 203 enterprises achieved a turnover of more than 1 trillion soums, and this year, 47 more companies have joined their ranks.

QALAMPIR.UZ directly covered the event and addressed questions to officials, business owners, and experts regarding the state of entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan, the potential for global expansion, the challenges in finding skilled specialists, and the overall significance of the event.

“Of course, there is a shortage of qualified personnel in entrepreneurship. The reason is that for a long time, there were no professional training programs. That’s why it’s difficult to find specialists now. However, many training courses — both online and offline — are opening. Based on our own experience, we are also trying to help prepare young people for entrepreneurship,” said Amina Bekjonova, head of “Muynak Tour” LLC.

“I even tell my son not to start his own business right away because it’s important to first learn under experienced entrepreneurs. Success is the result of experience, and experience is the result of mistakes. If you make costly mistakes on your own, it affects your confidence and motivation. That’s why you need a mentor. As they say, a mentor is as great as a father. Every meeting is a seed sown. In mathematics, 1+1=2, but in business, 1+1=11 — when strength, experience, and knowledge come together, they bring productivity and prosperity,” said entrepreneur Hasan Mamasaidov.

Valijon Solikhov, founder of the “Ermak” brand, noted that today’s business environment is completely different from that of the past, emphasizing that the most important thing for young entrepreneurs is the desire and willingness to take action.

“To enter the global market, you need high-quality products, persistence, and motivation. The appeal of Uzbek business is intertwined with the charm of Uzbek people. There’s something called national appeal — our hospitality and warmth. The foundation of business is humanity and sincerity. That’s why our best qualities — friendliness, openness, and hospitality — are our greatest assets. Because of this, many people around the world like us,” he said.

QALAMPIR.UZ founder Qamariddin Shaykhov, who gave a lecture at the event on advertising through the internet and media, stated that despite living in the age of artificial intelligence, many Uzbek entrepreneurs are still not taking full advantage of digital opportunities.

“I asked more than 300 entrepreneurs in this hall to open ChatGPT or Google on their phones and search their own names or company names. What comes up? This is crucial. You want to export, to enter global markets, to build international relations — but you should at least know what is written about you in your own country. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs only remember the media when something bad happens to them or when false information is spread,” he said.

One of the youngest entrepreneurs from Samarkand, 23-year-old Nilufar Omonova, says what motivates her every morning is the goal of reaching an annual turnover of one billion soums, becoming a leading entrepreneur, and creating new jobs. Speaking about entering the global market, she highlighted the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make:

“In fact, all the opportunities to enter the global market are already created by our government. The main issue lies with the entrepreneurs themselves. For example, the head of the company doesn’t speak foreign languages, there’s a shortage of multilingual staff, and there’s not enough research or initiative. I think this is the biggest drawback because all the conditions for export already exist,” said the founder of MIT Academy.