In autumn 2026, SCABA ry is organising a compact, three-part programme for Finnish, Nordic and EU companies and the organisations that represent them.
- Webinar 1: AI is transforming procurement and business in Central Asia (in English) 8 October 2026
- Webinar 2: Trade and growth in Central Asia – practical tools for market entry and business development (in Finnish) 10 November 2026
- Finnish Water Week, Tashkent, 1–4 December 2026
Participants will learn about sales tools and practical market entry, and also get guidance for networking on site in the region.
The programme forms a coherent whole: participants can move step by step from building know-how to entering the market in practice and developing new business opportunities. At the same time, each event is designed to stand on its own and offer concrete benefits, whether participants join the whole programme or a single event.
Registration for Webinar 1 is now open.
Webinar 1: AI is transforming procurement and business in Central Asia (in English)
8 October 2026
Artificial intelligence is no longer just an internal efficiency tool for companies. More and more often, customers, procurement organisations and decision-makers also use AI to evaluate suppliers, gather market information and compare tenders.
This international webinar, organised by SCABA ry together with its partner LEBA (Luxembourg Eurasian Business Association), looks at how AI is used in the Central Asian target countries – particularly Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan – and how this affects Finnish companies’ exports, sales and customer relationships.
The webinar aims to help companies understand:
- how the use of AI is developing in companies and organisations in the target countries
- how buyers use AI in procurement and supplier selection
- what expectations AI-savvy customers place on suppliers
- how Finnish companies can use AI to improve their competitiveness in export markets
- how AI can support international sales, market research and customer acquisition
The webinar shows how AI can be used for:
- gathering market and competitor intelligence
- identifying new customers
- preparing tenders
- international communication and multilingual customer work
- producing technical documentation
- maintaining and developing a quality management system
Programme 8 October 2026
10:00 Opening of the Webinar
- Mr Mika Kärkkäinen, Chairperson of SCABA ry
- Mr Jasurbek Ayupov, Chairperson of LEBA
10:20 Practical AI Experiences in Marketing, Communications and Business Adoption in Central Asia
- Mr. Abror Kholov, Regional Manager, Enji.ai, Kyrgyzstan
10:40 AI in Kazakhstan
- Mr/Ms XXXX, Ministry for AI in Kazakhstan
11:00 AI, QMS and proposals
- Mr Juha Hytönen, CEO of Unlimited Ltd, Finland
11:20 AI in business development
- Mr Chubak Temitov, Deputy CEO of High Tech Park, Kyrgyzstan
11:40 Finnpartnership, commentary
- Ms Birgit Nevala, Programme Director
12:00 Closing the webinar
Webinar 2: Trade and growth in Central Asia – practical tools for market entry and business development (in Finnish)
10 November 2026
The Central Asian markets offer Finnish companies significant opportunities, both for making their first export deals and for growing existing business. Companies do, however, face challenges in finding customers, identifying reliable partners, handling tender and contract processes, and managing commercial risks.
The webinar gives participants practical approaches to both entering the market and growing their business in Central Asia. It provides tools for winning new customers, developing partner networks, identifying commercial opportunities and building profitable growth in the region.
Topics include:
- how to identify the most attractive customers, projects and business opportunities in the different Central Asian markets
- how to build an effective market entry or growth plan that fits the company’s starting point and resources
- how to develop and manage local partner and distribution networks over the long term
- what to consider in tender and contract negotiations with both new and existing customers
- how to manage payment, currency, delivery and country risks in a growing business
- how to identify new growth areas, investment projects and public projects
- how to build and strengthen customer relationships in the Central Asian business culture
- how to use the Team Finland network, financiers and local experts to develop your business
- practical examples of Finnish companies’ market entry, growth stories and the most common mistakes.
Participants take away a concrete checklist to support market entry and business development, along with practical tools for winning customers, strengthening their partner network and building growth in the Central Asian markets.
Programme 10 November 2026
10:00 Mika Kärkkäinen, Chairperson of SCABA ry
- SCABA ry helps companies in Central Asia, from newcomers to those already well established
10:10 Ilkka Räisänen, Ambassador Emeritus to Central Asia
- Central Asia today as a business environment: opportunities, risks, financing
10:30 Maria Turenkova, Export Director, Honkarakenne Oyj
- Honkarakenne’s path to Central Asia
10:50 Jouni Jääskeläinen, CEO, EPSE Oy
- Observations on the markets and business culture
11:10 Petri Numminen, Honorary Consul of Kyrgyzstan in Finland
- International organisations as customers in Central Asia (UNDP, ADB, EBRD)
11:25 Anssi Karppinen, CEO, Qide Oy
- Experiences of doing business in Central Asia
11:40 Paula Pihlava-Werner, Finnpartnership, Networking and Communication Officer
- Commentary
12:00 End of the webinar
Finnish Water Week, Tashkent
1–4 December 2026
Water is one of the most important shared questions for the future of Central Asia and the Nordic countries – for urban growth, industrial development and environmental sustainability alike. Together with our partner Finnish Water Forum (FWF), we are responding to these challenges by bringing the key players of both regions together at Finnish Water Week, a water forum in Tashkent in the first week of December.
This unique seminar brings together companies representing high-level Nordic technology with companies, experts and authorities from the Central Asian countries to examine the entire water cycle. The focus is on clean water solutions, efficient wastewater treatment and the demanding water issues of industry – including the extractive sector – where Nordic quality, innovation and sustainability offer internationally recognised solutions.
At the heart of the event are Central Asia’s current needs and development priorities. The aim is to identify concrete challenges and build bridges towards workable, sustainable solutions. The seminar also offers an overview of high-level Nordic expertise and technology, known worldwide for efficiency, reliability and environmental responsibility.
We will also look at project financing and implementation, and strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors, which is often essential for getting involved in projects in Central Asia.
The Scandinavia Central Asia Water Forum is more than a seminar – it is a meeting place where the water solutions of the future are born.
The forum is organised by SCABA ry together with local partners. The four-day event offers a varied and practical programme:
- an inspiring seminar day,
- effective networking with potential partners and customers (B2B and B2C)
- on-site visits to key development sites and projects
- a visit to Tashkent City Park and/or Chorsu Bazaar, to see both modern Tashkent and the city’s rich cultural heritage.
The trip is led by Ilkka Räisänen, Finland’s Ambassador Emeritus to Central Asia. During the trip we will also meet Maria Ågren, Finland’s current roving Ambassador to Central Asia, and possibly celebrate Finland’s Independence Day with her (TBC). Petri Numminen, Honorary Consul of Kyrgyzstan, and Mika Kärkkäinen, Chairperson of SCABA ry, are also joining the trip.
Prices for Finnish companies
- Webinars 1 and 2 together: €200 per company for 3 participants, plus free SCABA ry membership until the end of 2027 (SMEs)
- Members get a 15% discount on the Business Seminar trip
- Webinars 1 and 2 bought separately: €150 per person each (only members get the discount on the Business Seminar trip)
- Business Seminar trip (preliminary estimate): €1,950 (+VAT)
- The trip price includes:
- the seminar programme
- travel within the destination country
- accommodation
- breakfasts, lunches and dinners
- The trip price does not include:
- domestic travel
- flights
- insurance
- your own additional programmes (we can help arrange these)
- The trip price includes:
Registration
Send a message to info@scaba.fi and tell us how you would like to take part in SCABA ry’s autumn programme. We will reply with more detailed instructions.
For more information, contact:
Mika Kärkkäinen, mika.karkkainen@scaba.fi
Ilkka Räisänen, ilkka.raisanen@scaba.fi and
Petri Numminen petri.numminen@scaba.fi
