Bishkek Business Club has organized the New Year’s Ethno Festival of Craft and Organic Products in the frame of the NICE-TAK project (Networking Intermediaries and Competitive Enterprises in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan), funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, according to the European Delegation to Tajikistan.

The main goal of the New Year’s Ethno Festival of Craft and Organic Products that took place on December 14-15 was in promoting both handicraft and organic farming, as well as involving Bishkek dwellers in ethno culture and familiarizing them with local producers.

Visitors of the event were reportedly able to not only purchase their favorite handicrafts and organic products like felt products, food, outer clothing, traditional drinks, accessories, home decor, jewelry and a variety of other items; but also to participate in interesting Master Classes and watch creative performances.  The festival program also included a New Year's Gifts Fair, refreshments, a program for children, a cultural program and popular festivities.

The Business School of Design and Handicraft is a platform for acquiring skills through which artisans and designers can operate the entire production-sales cycle, as well as a system that generates innovative and design solutions for traditional arts and crafts, linking local know-how with international demand for craft and designer products.

NICE-TAK (Networking Intermediaries & Competitive Enterprises in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan) project is implemented by an international consortium, led by sequa gGmbH (Germany) and including five Partners: International NGO CESVI (Italy), National Association of Small and Medium Business of Tajikistan (NASMB), National Association of Business Women of Tajikistan (NABWT), Union of Craftsmen of Tajikistan (UCT) – in Tajikistan – and Bishkek Business Club (BBC) – in Kyrgyzstan.

The overall goal of the project is to promote small and medium-sized enterprises in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with a particular emphasis on the development of the handicraft sector.  The goal is being achieved through capacity building and support of Tajik and Kyrgyz business intermediary organizations.