What does entrepreneurship look like in Central Asia’s border regions – and what do local businesses need to grow?

On 2-9 September 2026, the EU-funded Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 11) launched a series of field missions to map business initiatives and entrepreneurship support ecosystems across Central Asia, starting with Batken Region in Kyrgyzstan and Surkhandarya Region in Uzbekistan.

The mapping team met with national and local authorities, business associations, development partners, entrepreneurship support organisations and civil society, while also visiting local markets and economic zones to see first-hand how businesses operate and what challenges they face.

The consultations highlighted strong potential in areas such as agriculture and food processing, trade, textiles and handicrafts, tourism and services. At the same time, entrepreneurs continue to face challenges related to access to markets and finance, skills, infrastructure and logistics, export readiness and access to information and business support.

Particular attention was given to opportunities for women, youth, returning migrants and other groups in vulnerable situations as important target groups for inclusive business development.

The mission also helped identify opportunities for stronger coordination with development partners already active in entrepreneurship, SME development and economic empowerment, opening the way for possible synergies in training, advisory support, referrals and outreach.

The findings from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will now feed into the broader regional mapping exercise, alongside upcoming missions in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The results will help BOMCA 11 identify promising business initiatives and shape future targeted business coaching and support tailored to the realities of border communities.