Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A key event in the field of retail and e-commerce development, the Retail Central Asia International PLUS-Forum, continues in the capital of Uzbekistan.

On the first day, more than 30 speakers spoke at the Forum site. The experts shared their experience in developing key areas of retail trade in Central Asian countries, as well as in choosing promising formats. In particular, at the panel session “Key areas of retail trade in Central Asian countries. Business is on the rise,” NielsenIQ Commercial Director Madina Senseigaliyeva noted that consumers around the world are concerned about rising prices.

“Today, consumer confidence is based on three factors: how confident buyers are about their job prospects for the next six months, how confident consumers are about their personal finances, and how willing they are to spend money. According to global studies, in the second and third quarters of 2022, the level of consumer confidence around the world was declining. And this is not surprising - the pressure on the consumer wallet is growing from all sides. This includes an increase in food and energy prices, inflation, an increase in the base rate, and a disruption in supply chains. Everything leads to the fact that the buyer becomes more cautious and significantly monitors how he spends money,” the speaker emphasized. Based on this, Madina Senseigaliyeva shared her opinion on what exactly in the current conditions would suit the consumer the most, who began to more carefully monitor the expenditure of his money.

The speech of the founder of Fashion Retail Manadgment, Murat Azamov, also aroused great interest among the audience. He also dwelled on the difficulties that hinder development. Among them are high customs duties, which negatively affect the final price, but this issue is now being resolved at the state level. As soon as this barrier is lowered, a great opportunity will open up for global players to develop their business on a large scale here.

Representative of the analytical company Data Insight Fedor Virin, speaking with a report “Digital transformation of retail. Change in retail following the change in consumers”, also spoke about the constraining factors hindering the development of the market. He attributed to them: lack of service infrastructure, qualified personnel, poor quality of mobile Internet connection outside Tashkent, lack of retail space and others. He spoke in detail about exactly how many of the problems can be solved.

In addition, the speakers discussed the issues of the modern level of interaction with the client and much more.

The second day of the PLUS-Forum promises to be no less eventful. In particular, the panel sessions will address such issues as whether it is possible to make the human factor an ally, marketplaces as a new link in the evolution of e-Commerce, etc. Also, the conference program will include a round table “Modern retail and banking. From supply chain financing to payment flow services and acquiring. Prospects".

Among the speakers:

• Oleg Pekos - First Deputy Minister for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications of Uzbekistan for the digital economy and e-government;

• Pavel Dergai - Deputy General Director of Tucson

• Michael Ruckman - CEO and founder of Senteo incorporated, international expert in Customer Experience, Relationship management, Loyalty and Business transformation;

• Azat Mashabaev - CEO and co-owner of Reworker Kazakhstan and fulfillment center in Nur-Sultan;

• Dmitry Komissar — General Director of Forte Market;

• Sardor Davletyarov - owner of Bellstore (chain of stores);

• Azamat Shaismailov - commercial director of Makro;

• Malik Karimov - Marketing Director of Korzinka;

• Muzaffar Azamov - Chairman of the Uzbekistan Electronic Commerce Association and founder of mato.uz;

• Izmael Germain - Sales Director of Schiever Uzbekistan (Bi1 chain of stores);

• Olga Kondratieva - Purchasing Director of Schiever Uzbekistan (Bi1 chain of stores);

• Georgy Fesenko - ex-director of rozetka.uz and Alibaba;

• Akmal Rakhimov - Deputy General Director of the Uzum marketplace;

• Mirjamol Sultanov - co-founder and CIO of Maydala;

• Madina Senseigaliyeva - Commercial Director of NielsenIQ Kazakhstan;

• Stanislav Koloskov - Commercial Director of CosmoBeauty (brands Likato, EpilProfi, L’avant, SentensLab), ex-CMO TanukiFamily and Podruzhka;

• Alexander Katanov — Financial Director of Verny;

• Aishe Bahadirova - Business Development Director of Olcha Store;

• Farrukh Abdullahanov - Partner, Head of KPMG Consulting Department in Uzbekistan;

• Ermek Abitev - representative of one of the leading cloud services for retail in Central Asia NielsenIQ Kazakhstan;

• Urmatbek Beishenaliev - Marketing Director of ISHONCH;

• Anna Timoshina - Managing Partner of VBO Rybycore;

• Nadezhda Fomina - independent international consultant on strategic marketing and retail marketing, lecturer at the Bader-Baer Business School (MBA programs);

• Fedor Virin - partner of the analytical company Data Insight;

• Nargisa Baimirzayeva - Human Resources Director at Korzinka;

• Alexander Ponomarev — founder of SNRG Group (Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan), founder of Scan TMC Asia, mentor of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development;

• Anastasia Lomachenko — Director of CRM and Loyalty Programs at Crocus Group