It’s almost impossible to get a sense of the culture and flavour of a country without tasting its traditional cuisine. In the Kyrgyz Republic, most food consists of meat and different types of pastry – full of energy and calories to sustain the nomadic lifestyle of old. Nowadays, of course, healthier options are also available.
One of the most popular dishes is “manty,” a thinly rolled dough filled with meat, onion, or fresh seasonal greens. Manty is mostly popular in the southern and northern regions of the country.
Aida Jusupova owns a network of fast-food outlets called Maida Manty, which offer a variety of this delicacy. “Maida” means “small” in Kyrgyz, and indeed Aida’s manty are very tiny in size and prepared mainly with greens and vegetables like spinach, potato, or clover in early spring.
Aida came to Maida Manty almost by chance. “I had been working in a local bank for many years,” she explains. “During my maternity leave I found out that this type of manty was very popular in Bishkek, but nobody knew how to cook it in a proper way. So I started cooking maida manty and delivered them to my relatives and friends. It was quite challenging to combine all my roles considering that I am a mother of three children, so I decided to quit my job at the bank and focus more on cooking. I have never regretted my decision.”
However, finding the ideal recipe for manty was no simple task. She tried many types of flour, fillings, and proportions, consulted many cooks and even the older generations in the south. Eventually, she found the perfect combination. Aida thinks that the main secret of delicious manty is the quality of the ingredients and fresh greens. Now she offers three types of maida manty, national drinks, and freshly baked bread.
Aida is one of the participants of the EBRD’s Women in Business mentorship programme supported by the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) and governemnt of Switzerland. She applied for the programme with a particular request – to improve HR-related issues such as staff recruitment, benefits, and morale to ensure a comfortable and safe workspace.
“I have been working with my mentor Tilek Alybekov for seven months and have enjoyed every minute,” Aida enthuses. “We have worked with many other coaches and psychologists, and I had the great opportunity to meet other successful women entrepreneurs. We have supported each other and shared our experiences as well as challenges. Now I have established my own network of inspiring women and their success motivates me in my work,” she adds.
Tilek Alybekov owns a consulting company and mentored Aida throughout the implementation of new HR policies in her company, as well as the installation of a new accounting and reporting system. He also encouraged Aida to broaden her business and produce semi-finished frozen products. She acquired special equipment and now sells her products in small grocery stores.
Working with the mentorship programme has given Aida the skills and support she needed to create the life that she always wanted. “I have always dreamt about having my own business to be more flexible and plan my own time. I have finally found this balance. Now I have more time for my myself and for my family. I love sports and different mindfulness practices. The mentorship programme has broadened my horizons and helped me to be more open-minded and ambitious.”
