USAID Central Asia Exposure Features: “From a Translator to a Processor”

The USAID Agribusiness Competitiveness Activity in Tajikistan (ACAT), which fosters a competitive, inclusive and resilient approach to stimulating economic growth, was featured in a USAID Central Asia Exposure piece, “From a Translator to a Processor.” The article tells the story of Safarov Rajabali, a young, professional translator from southern Khatlon, in Tajikistan, who lost his father to COVID-19 and had to take over the family’s agro-processing business. Though he knew little about running a food processing business, with assistance from ACAT, Rajabali invested in new cold storage and processing equipment, and learned how to meet stringent international standards that helped him tap new markets in the European Union. He successfully increased profitability of the family’s enterprise, which specializes in fruit juices, jams, pickles and onions, added five new jobs, and now sources from an additional 50 smallholder farmers.

“From a simple translator, USAID helped me become a professional, self-confident head of a large enterprise,” Rajabali said. “I decided to explore new directions for my business, to use the potential of the enterprise for the whole year. We must learn to invest in our own business and stop waiting or asking for help from someone else.”

Safarov Rajabali – Photo by Khosiyat Komilova for USAID.