Kazakhstan's OVOP initiative empowers women entrepreneurs with record grants in 2025

Kazakhstan's One Village One Product (OVOP) initiative has seen strong participation from women entrepreneurs. The programme, which supports locally made goods, helped launch dozens of new businesses in 2025. Four women in Almaty recently received grants of 5 million tenge each to expand their ventures. The OVOP project is run by the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, with support from the Ministry of National Economy. Its goal is to boost regional products made from local raw materials. In 2025 alone, the initiative led to 53 new enterprises and 410 sales outlets across the country.

Out of 2,523 consultation recipients, 1,917 were businesswomen. Women also dominated the finalists, with 157 out of 198 participants choosing fields like agricultural processing, food production, and handicrafts. One grant winner, Gulmira Makhpirkhodzhaeva, now produces apple cider vinegar, fruit chips, and a new line of fruit teas. Kazakh products gained international recognition in 2025. They were displayed at FOODEX JAPAN in Tokyo and won awards at the Mondial du Fromage competition in France. Starting in 2026, the initiative will expand, allowing up to ten finalists per region instead of three.

The OVOP initiative continues to grow, with women playing a leading role in its success. The programme's expansion in 2026 will give more entrepreneurs the chance to develop their businesses. Kazakh-made goods are also gaining attention abroad, following recent international awards.