The U.S. Embassy in Tashkent and OSON have initiated a new public-private partnership to promote entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan. The collaboration was formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by U.S. Ambassador Jonathan Henick and Farkhod Makhmudov, Founder and Shareholder of OSON Holding (Brio Group), in January 2025.
As part of this initiative, OSON will provide $50,000 to fund a new cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). This sponsorship will enable 25 entrepreneurs to undergo a four-month training course developed by the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University.
The United States aims to strengthen its role as a key partner for local business leaders in Uzbekistan through support for small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in energy, science, and technology sectors. "The AWE is a proven training module that will provide foundational knowledge to aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the country thanks to the generous contribution of OSON," noted an official statement from the embassy.
This agreement marks the second public-private partnership initiative by the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan. Previously, it partnered with Air Products Company in November 2024 to establish an American Makerspace in Qarshi.
Since its inception in 2019, AWE has equipped over 15,000 women worldwide with resources necessary for business success. In Uzbekistan alone, since its launch there in 2022, AWE has supported 55 entrepreneurs primarily within the Fergana Valley region.
OSON stands as Central Asia's pioneering fintech company specializing in e-money and digital payment services across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and UAE. The company has been operational for more than eight years serving over 2.5 million users and employs more than 150 people globally.
Farkhod Makhmudov expressed enthusiasm about this partnership aimed at fostering economic growth through empowering women-owned enterprises: "Launched in 2019... creating economic growth... benefitting their communities."