Factors of development and obstacles to growth of small and medium-sized businesses in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of the Republic of Tajikistan

Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) is located in the eastern part of Tajikistan, occupying 45% of the entire country. Moreover, only 3% of the region's territory is suitable for living - mainly in the valleys of mountain rivers. Agriculture is the basis for the employment of the population of many districts that make up GBAO; a significant part of the population is engaged in animal husbandry. The peculiarities of the development of small and medium-sized forms of entrepreneurial activity became the reason for choosing a study of this sector in this region. The study was carried out in Shugnan, Rushan and Darvaz districts and Khorog city. The studies sectors are bee-farming, livestock breeding, agricultural processing, trade and tourism. The paper presents the results of a survey of 96 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region with a description of the research methodology, as well as an analysis describing the factors that promote growth and the barriers to the development of MSMEs in that region.