A success story from Zira, Azerbaijan: Red Globe LLC, which has become a pioneer in organic production, was able to expand its business thanks to an SME loan from TuranBank. At a time when more and more people are paying attention to their diet and prefer organic products, this is an impressive example of sustainable agriculture.

The Red Globe LLC company is one of the pioneers in growing organic vegetables in Azerbaijan. It was founded seven years ago in Zira, a district on the outskirts of the capital Baku, and is specifically engaged in growing organic tomatoes and grapes. Seven years ago, Red Globe LLC was still a small business in organic crop production.

Thanks to the support of TuranBank, the company has been able to establish itself as a leading supplier of organic products in its region. In addition to serving as a role model for sustainable cultivation, the company also provides important employment for the surrounding villagers during harvest time. TuranBank’s loans helped Red Globe LLC gradually upgrade irrigation systems and other equipment needed for cultivation. Modern and durable greenhouses were also built. In addition, TuranBank also helped the company gain more know-how in the area of efficient production increase.

In addition to its success in producing healthy food, Red Globe LLC has been able to employ over 80 people during the harvest season, providing an income opportunity for the people and families in the surrounding villages.

The company strongly believes that organic fruits and vegetables are important for human health. It plans to further expand its organic operation and hopes to make a positive social impact by providing employment opportunities.

We are proud that this investment has contributed to the United Nations’ 8th Sustainable Development Goal, “decent work and economic growth.” It demonstrates how positive change can be created through SME financing and sustainable agriculture.

Florist Nino Peikrishvili is 27 years old and runs flower stores in downtown Tbilisi. She opened her first store at the age of 19. When she decided to expand her business model, she took a loan from FINCA Bank Georgia. Today, her stores are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, for the first time, customers can purchase flowers via online ordering.

She uses a variety of decorative materials for her flowers, which she offers for purchase in specially designated flower buckets. In the eyes of the young entrepreneur, the most important prerequisite for business success is a clear vision of business operations and the right partners by her side.

Today, Ms. Peikrishvili manages four stores with a team of eight employees.

How about a mirror that plays your favorite music, walks itself in after you shower, and automatically responds to movement? Sounds magical doesn’t it? Not for Petru Schiopu’s team, who can turn any mirror into something more than just a decorative element. In 2018, Petru Schiopu approached the microfinance institute Microinvest and presented his vision and ideas from Millory. The business idea includes the individualized development of LED-illuminated premium mirrors. There is no function that Petru Schiopu could not implement with his company.

Microinvest’s first loan was taken for the purchase of equipment such as machines, tools and raw materials. Later, thanks to another loan, Petru invested in a company car to ensure delivery and installation of the mirrors. For over 19 years, Microinvest has been supporting Moldovan companies and individuals who choose to improve their quality of life through their own ambition. In the case of Petru with success! Petru reports that there were many ups and downs.

Over time, the company went through all phases of corporate development: competition, lack of personnel, unstable order situation. But Microinvest has always stood by them. Now, for the next 5 years, Petru and his team at Millory plan to enter the European market to produce more than 10,000 mirrors per month and decorate people’s homes with smart mirrors. We congratulate Petru and his team from the bottom of our hearts for their success.

Sergey Moon from the village of Zhanaturmys in Kazakhstan has been growing vegetables for over 25 years. He says it’s a difficult but honorable endeavor. So he gave up his job as an aircraft technician to grow tomatoes.

With “KH Kazakhstan-2030”, his idea became a farm that today covers 150 hectares of land on which three crops are grown: onions, corn and tomatoes.

To ensure that fresh vegetables get to the market counters, and then to the tables of households, work in “KH Kazakhstan-2030” is in full swing all year round. More than 100 people are employed as seasonal workers, whom Sergey hires in neighboring villages. In the fall, the soil is plowed here, in the winter the seeds are planted, in the spring the cuttings are planted in greenhouses, and in the summer they are taken from the greenhouses to the field. They are harvested only at the end of July – beginning of August.

Sergey Moon has been a loyal client of KMF LLC, the largest microfinance institution in Kazakhstan, for the past few years. In 2019, he bought a drip irrigation system with a loan. Part of the money also went to spring field work. The loan was taken out for three years, with an 11-month grace period. In the winter of the same year, with the help of the KMF, Sergey also paid off suppliers and replenished his working capital. In February 2020, Sergey was able to finance the expansion of the irrigation systems and the purchase of fertilizers, fuel and lubricants with another loan.

According to Sergey Moon, buying a drip irrigation system with the help of a KMF microcredit took his business to a new level. “It’s a huge saving in terms of resources. Above all, time. With the furrow method, it takes us nine hours to irrigate 10 hectares. With drip irrigation, it takes three hours. So we save water because we use it three times less. In addition, you can thus affecting the quality of the products.

Because we can apply any fertilizer directly to the root. And of course all this helps to save on labor costs and survive even the driest years,” says Sergey Moon. Sergey Moon’s farm sells vegetables in almost all regions of Kazakhstan, and also exports to Russia, Kyrgyzstan and other neighboring countries.