On May 17, a conference for women entrepreneurs of “KMF Isker Hanymy” (“KMF Business Lady”) was held at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Karaganda. On this day, clients of the microfinance institution discussed the mechanisms of effective sales, as well as methods of applying new technologies in promoting goods and services. KMF is the largest microfinance institution in Kazakhstan and the CIS, founded in 1997. The company provides loan products aimed at supporting entrepreneurship, increasing the welfare of the population and developing agriculture. The conference began with a mini-exhibition of products made by KMF customers. Various handicrafts, food and much more were presented there. It should be noted that support of women in business has been and remains one of the Company’s development priorities. “60% or about 150,000 active clients of our Company are women. At present, supporting female entrepreneurship is very popular in the market, while we did it back in 1997, - shares Zhandos Tursumbayev, Regional Director in Astana. - The most active regions are Shymkent, Kyzylorda, Taraz, but every year we see the growth of interest on the part of Karaganda and metropolitan businessmen. For example, we have 8000 clients in Karaganda only.” In addition to providing financing, KMF delivers financial literacy trainings. Within the framework of this activity, the project “Financial Literacy for the Population” is being implemented, which involved participation of 137,000 Kazakhstanis, mainly in rural areas. Among other social projects is “KMF Business Lady” conference. KMF has been holding such conferences in different regions of Kazakhstan since 2006. In this period, over two thousand women entrepreneurs have become participants of the conference with a chance to listen to speeches and presentations of experts in various fields, as well as business coaches. “By delivering free financial literacy trainings to Kazakhstani citizens, we contribute to the development of the financial sector: the more literate the population is in financial affairs, the better is the welfare of the people of Kazakhstan,” - the Regional Director said. “KMF Business Lady” conference not only gives networking opportunities to our clients, but provides them with instructions on how to manage social media profiles of their business thanks to lectures of the leading business experts. KMF’s contribution to the development of female entrepreneurship is supported by the institution’s partner, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which has similar goals. “Both KMF and EBRD have the goal of helping women develop their business and strengthen it. More and more women learn about this program, as it is long-term, it will continue in the future,” - said Elena Sadikova, Business Coach. Raushan Zarkeeva from Atasu had a chance to use opportunities offered by KMF. A businesswoman has always had a dream to expand her mini-dairy production. And thanks to the Kazakhstani microfinance institution, the dream has become a reality. “We started from the production of dairy products from cow’s milk, thanks to which we were able to consolidate our clientele. Over time, there was a desire to expand. Of course it was terrifying. We did not know how and what we should do? But KMF staff helped us to believe in our strength, offered the most convenient conditions, which contributed to our expansion. Now we produce dairy products from mare’s milk”, - says Raushan. – Today’s conference gave a lot of new knowledge. It was interesting and informative to listen to experienced sellers, and certainly, we will try to apply their methods in our business.” “We believe the conference was held at a high level, and in terms of customer participation - more than 100 people, and in terms of efficiency. The conference participants were so involved and interested in the presentations of business coaches that they even suggested not having a lunch break. Judging by the feedback received from customers, in the future they would like to attend such events and gain new and useful knowledge,” said Assel Shegebayeva, General Director of KMF- Demeu Corporate Fund. The hosts of the event are confident that such conferences will become traditional for Karaganda and will cover an even greater number of entrepreneurs.
