Mr. Furkat Kadyrov is a young professional striving to combine his skills in business, information technology, and finance as he promotes economic development in Tajikistan.

A graduate of the Technological University of Tajikistan (International Economics), Mr. Kadyrov developed his skills and interests early. As a student, he was one of the founders of the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team and helped open several successful student-owned and operated businesses. Over the past five years, Mr. Kadyrov has been actively involved in the work of the Urban Institute, an NGO in Tajikistan, where he managed information technology and finances. Among other things, Mr. Kadyrov’s work involved introducing accrual-based accounting and automated billing and collection systems in Tajikistan’s local governments and developing credit-monitoring systems for local utilities.

Mr. Kadyrov’s most recent undertaking is bringing together regulators and Tajikistan’s banking community to open the country’s first credit bureau and advance the country’s underdeveloped credit markets, which are a major impediment to sustainable growth. Mr. Kadyrov is eager to use his Humphrey year at Boston University to learn more about modern financial and banking systems and risk management practices, and to establish contacts that can help him bring his experience in the field to his home country.