On February 9, 2025, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, under the leadership of First Deputy Minister Solehzoda Ashurboy Abduvohid, together with the Permanent Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Seiichiro Imai, and with the participation of representatives of ministries, agencies, and development partners, held a roundtable within the framework of the "One Village – One Product" (OVOP) Movement Project in Tajikistan.
Solehzoda A. A. opened the meeting by speaking about cooperation with JICA, particularly regarding the mentioned project. He noted that the OVOP movement has achieved significant success in various countries and has now expanded into Central Asia, where it is currently in the development phase. The OVOP movement in Tajikistan can serve as an effective tool for creating jobs, developing entrepreneurship and handicrafts, especially in remote rural areas.
During the meeting, it was noted that the OVOP movement in Tajikistan is being implemented at the initiative of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and JICA, aimed at creating a stable and efficient network for developing innovative products and turning them into international brands. The project has launched activities in Khatlon Province to bring new products to national and international markets, and an OVOP Center has been established in the city of Bokhtar.
Based on research, more than 100 types of innovative local products have been identified across the province, and 12 types of products are already being produced and presented. In March 2025, these newly produced items will be exhibited at the international exhibition EXPO 2025 in Tokyo, Japan, and will find their buyers.
The project will be expanded to all regions of the country, and in 2025, the opening of a special OVOP store in Dushanbe is planned.
At the end of the meeting, participants called for the expansion of cooperation between state authorities, local producers, the private sector, and development partners, each playing an important role in the success and development of the project.
