The research provided in this document is provided as an outline for the work related to the project funded by the United States Agency for International Development and Winrock International (United States Department of State).
This project is a long range project dealing with the investigation, planning , implementation and evaluation of movement of a Soviet sphere country from the planned USSR economy (pre-1991) to a free market global environment.
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- Long Term Solutions to New Independent States' Woes
- Winsock International Announces First Seminar Class
- Photo Gallery
- Contact Steve Frumkin
LONG TERM SOLUTIONS TO NEW INDEPENDENT STATES’ WOES
…the Uzbekistan file
MORRILTON, AR (July 30, 2001) – As the new independent states of the former Soviet Union emerge into the world economy, their economic woes continue. This is especially true in Uzbekistan, the ancient republic on the western edge of the Tibetan Plateau of China. The average Uzbek cannot buy much these days, especially if it is imported. However, one valuable import isn’t for sale. Rather it is being given away. American business experts are donating their time and expertise to help Uzbekistan improve their agricultural business and develop a prosperous market economy.
Since 1992 about 100
American business farmers and business experts have aided these former Soviet
citizens through the U. S. State Department and Winrock International’s
Farmer-to-Farmer program. These
small farms and businesses are essential to the economic and political stability
of the region. A region, which is
strategically sensitive to the future of the U. S., both politically and
militarily.
American volunteers help by teaching and consulting to existing regional governments and companies. This includes sessions on planning, management and marketing in the global economy. Philadelphia University Professor Steven Frumkin, an expert in textiles, international trade and marketing-management, is one such American, who is in the midst of a multi-year program started almost one year ago to bring the textile/farming sector of Andijon region into the global economy.
Working amidst the backdrop of an increased Islamic
Guerrilla movement (the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan), instigated to
destabilize the region Professor Frumkin has traveled throughout the Andijon
region. Traveling on the old
Silk Road, in the footsteps of Marco Polo, Frumkin aims to help educate
company employees and management in using modern business techniques in their
ancient manufacturing facilities. Many
of these mills employed upwards of 15-20,000 employees in the height of the
Soviet System, while today only a few hundred workers arrive daily.
On a recent visit, local Uzbek and Russian national
television, and print media followed Professor Frumkin through his daily treks.
He visited a leather factory, a cotton producing vertical
mill-manufacturing clothing for Chinese prisoners and an Uzbek government
uniform factory. His travels were
highlighted on the evening news along with the daily events in the Fergana
Valley where insurgents are demanding the overthrow of the government and the
establishing of an independent Islamic State.
“Our project will bring business education to generations
of young people in Uzbekistan. They
not only know what to sell but, also how to make it. And make it profitably”, Frumkin said. “I expect that if these companies take my advice to become
closer to their customers and their customer’s needs, that they can become
significant suppliers of products to markets they are not currently in, and not
just in the cotton that they farm.”
“My project started last year with an overview of the
industry, continued throughout he winter with extensive site visits and will
further proceed with training sessions for industry with in the next few months.
All this first part will conclude with the establishment of a long-term
educational program in con junction with the local business and technical
institute. I am lucky to have
befriended the Minster for Foreign Economic Development, Minister Kosminjon Tudaliev, and we have struck a unique working friendship.”
The long-term economic stability of the region can only be
enhanced by State Department projects such as Professor Frumkin’s.
Fortunately, Americans like Frumkin are willing to give their time and
expertise and experience to help these former Russians succeed in industry.
These business-to-business exchanges and the goodwill that comes with
them are long-term solutions to the economic woes of the region.
Winrock International is a private, nonprofit organization that works around the world to increase agricultural productivity and rural employment while protecting the environment. Winrock implements projects in over 40 countries including Asia, Africa, and the Middle East and is funded through government, and private grants and contributions
October
2002, MORRILTON, ARKANSAS
WINSOCK INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES FIRST SEMINAR CLASS AT PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY
Winrock International announced that the first seminar class conducted by Philadelphia University professor, Steven Frumkin, has been graduated. In its third year, the program a United States Agency for International Development funded project is conducted in Andijan, the Republic of Uzbekistan. Professor Frumkin has evaluated the cotton growing and garment manufacturing region’s infrastructure, coordinated technical assistance in product review and aided in developing strategies to bring the region’s products to the world marketplace.
Professor Frumkin said, “We have been provided with a
unique opportunity. The region is
eager to come forward from the Soviet sphere days of a planned economy and move
towards a free market growth economy. The
Andijan region is rich in raw material, cotton, and has a ready supply of
talented individuals who we are now training to create strategies and products
for the world at large. This is not
just going to be a location for inexpensive labor, they are going to create and
develop first class innovative products for manufacturers and consumers all over
the world. We are working with
irrigation, transportation and the educational sectors of the region to assure
success.”
Minster of Foreign Economic Development, the Republic of Uzbekistan, Kozminjon Turdaliev reinforced and encouraged the project by providing free movement and access to the region’s industries, for Frumkin. He said, “We are honored to have Professor Frumkin visit with us and help us guide our manufacturing community into the 2000’s. His wealth of industry and market experience is going to help our country become a world-class leader in product production, business expertise and economic growth. On behalf of the Republic of Uzbekistan we thank the American people for supporting us in a region often forgotten, a people impoverished, and one with threats all around us.” Uzbekistan has been in the news as an ally of the United States in its fight against terrorism and has had its own problems with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which also borders northern Afghanistan. Uzbekistan air bases have been used to house US troops and aircraft and sits on the strategic western edge of the Chinese Tibet plateau.
The project, with a life expectancy of another 3 years, has intensely challenged member companies to increase quality, participate in the classroom segment training sections, and have executives meet to develop regional and company specific strategies for a new market paradigm. The goal is to bring a trade delegation to the United States or Europe for an international trade fair.
Frumkin is a professor of textile marketing, and business
policy and strategy, teaching classes in both the School of Business
Administration and the School of Textiles and Material Technology.
He spent over 30 years working in the textile, apparel and retail
industries and has a background with public and private institutions, as well as
local governmental experience. He
is a native of New York and holds a textile degree from the Philadelphia College
of Textiles and Science (Philadelphia University) and an MBA from the City
University of New York, Baruch College.
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