Mr. Sompairac, can you tell us what brought you to Uzbekistan?
It is pure chance that brought me here. I first arrived 10 years ago and I figured, a country with 24 Million inhabitants that has been cut off from global trade holds tremendous potential.

What were your beginnings like, here?
When I arrived, there were practically no foreigners. I remember how I thought I had arrived where no Westerner had set foot for ages. Very often I was the only non-Uzbek passenger on the airplane. We were a very small and tight community of pioneers and the beginning of my business was of course difficult. I started out in textiles then switched over to engineering equipment, for which there was a great need.

Today you are running a successful company, Cenasco Trading. What are your main activities?
We are a Swiss registered company with a joint venture here in Tashkent. We are engaged in commercial projects such as the Yves Roche Cosmetics store and will be opening a subsidiary of Naf Naf young womens fashion in the very near future. Recently I have also started putting together Adventure Tourism packages, using untapped resources such as home stays, 4 wheel safaris, nature reserves. I have a strong French language based team here who help me to diversify our portfolio.

Where can you see the greatest change over the last decade?
Activity. Imagine, when I got here, ' there were hardly any cars on the streets, there was no construction going on, one felt all activity had come to a complete standstill Uzbeks were not aware of their own potential. I am pleased to see how especially over the last 2 years things have moved. Now we even have mini traffic jams. Activity has greatly changed, there is life now.

To get a break from the big city Tashkent, where do you got to?
There is no need to leave Tashkent, one lives very well here. We have everything we could with for. 1 live in a Mahalla and feel very integrated, we have a good relationship with our neighbors and our community. For recreation, I very much like to get out to the Golf Course, it's a superb course, immaculately maintained, beautifully located by the small like side and it offers a breathtaking panorama with the Tien Shan mountains in the back. It's worth traveling to Uzbekistan for golfing, the course is laid out very interestingly and the clubhouse offers an amicable ambience. When I have visitors, I take them out to Chagatai, where national cuisine at its finest is served in a cozy environment.

Where do you see the future of tourism in Uzbekistan?
The potential of this country for the tourism sector is still enormous. One-way to be successful I believe Uzbekistan has to open up and improve its links with other destinations such as Kashgar in the East or Iran in the West. Combining a number of countries in one area is the trend of the future.

Do you get to spend enough time with your family?
I am a family oriented man and just for fun, let me show you, here.... (pulls out a manuscript from a drawer) have recently devoted time to adapt Uzbek bedtime stones to French for my own children and nephews.

Together with a French editor we are looking at publishing these folk stories for broader distribution in France and other French speaking Countries.

What message would you like to transmit to visitors and investors to Uzbekistan?
Uzbekistan does get its share of criticism but I would like to point out the extraordinary intellectual openness and friendliness of its citizens towards foreigners, certainly due to its heritage from The Great Silk Road, where travelers from all over the world were accommodated over centuries. The people of Uzbekistan are exceptionally hospitable and welcoming. Also, this is a country where it can be very agreeable and profitable to do business. Here it is still possible to develop new ventures, opportunities are wide open, contrary to Europe for instance, as long as you accept and follow the rules. I for one have a rather positive view.

To get more information on adventure tours: Thierry Ph. Sompairac President Cenasco Trading

Yves Roche Cosmetic Store
Ataturk Street opposite Opera House Navoi Theater

Naf Naf womens wear
next to Yves Roche Cosmetic Store