The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $22.58 million small expenditure financing facility (SEFF) that will support activities to boost project readiness and make project implementation more efficient and sustainable in Kyrgyzstan. The financing includes a $13.36 million concessional loan and a $9.22 million grant from the Asian Development Fund. It will fund project preparatory
Kyrgyzstan and German companies have signed an investment agreement on a project to build and operate two floating solar power plants on the surface of the reservoir of Kyrgyzstan’s largest Toktogul hydroelectric power plant. The agreement was signed on November 26 between the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers and Sonnenenergie, a.s., AB Progressio GmbH, and LTI
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says it is launching three Women’s Creative Labs in At-Bashy, Kochkor, and Kyzart villages in Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region. These Labs will be run by the Public Foundation “Alliance of Trainers and Consultants – PF ATiK” and the Public Association “Naryn Center for Economic Development”. The Women’s Creative Lab is
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is helping to improve water security and ensure a sustainable water supply in the Kyrgyz Republic by providing up to €17 million for infrastructure upgrades in the north of the country. The financial package consists of a Bank loan of up to €7.6 million and a similar-sized
The Swiss project “Medical Education Reforms in the Kyrgyz Republic” presented the results achieved over the last 10 years at the conference dedicated to its finalization on November 12 in Bishkek. Local and international partners and donors at the conference discussed the achievements of the project and also future perspectives and sustainability of the results
On November 6, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, hosted the 11th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The summit was chaired by Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov and attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Uzbekistan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid a state visit to Kyrgyzstan on November 4-5 and, together with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, chaired the 6th meeting of the Kyrgyzstan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Presidents Japarov and Erdoğan signed a Joint Declaration elevating relations between Kyrgyzstan and Turkey to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership, which Japarov
Late in October, the EU disbursed EUR 7 million as a budget support grant towards the education sector in Kyrgyzstan, the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic said. The EU’s engagement is centred on supporting the Ministry of Education’s work in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), alongside a
Climate finance, infrastructure, agriculture, and micro and smaller businesses in Central Asia were just some of the areas that benefited from strong funding from IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, over the last fiscal year. The funds, coupled with advisory support, are helping to increase private sector participation, create jobs, boost financial inclusion,
Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov says he plans to revise the country’s national anthem to adequately represent the “evolving” identity of the nation, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. Japarov said in an interview with the Kabar news outlet on October 30 that he believes the current anthem, adopted 33 years ago, fails to inspire patriotism and unity, and does not
The government of Kyrgyzstan has introduced a visa-free entry for organized tourist groups from China for up to 21 days. This was announced by Deputy Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, Edil Baisalov at the 11th China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum, which was held in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China on October 28. The
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 27 hosted the E-Commerce Expo 2024, a milestone event aimed at accelerating digital transformation across Central Asia. Organized with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the event attracted over 600 participants, including business leaders, government officials, entrepreneurs, and representatives from international
A memorandum of understanding was signed on 17 October between the specially protected nature areas of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic on the conservation of the snow leopard. The aim of this cooperation is to conserve the snow leopard and its habitats in the northern Tien Shan Mountains within four Specially Protected Nature Areas (SPNAs)
The Turkish Ministry of National Education has announced changes to the history curriculum — the term “Central Asia” will be replaced with “Turkestan”. This was reported by the official website of Turkey’s TRT television and radio company. The report cites Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who emphasized the importance of the unity of the Turkic
A court in Bishkek has ruled in the case of the Kyrgyz anti-corruption investigative group Temirov Live, sentencing two journalists to prison terms after finding them guilty of charges that their supporters and media watchdogs say are politically motivated, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports. Makhabat Tajibek-kyzy was sentenced to six years in prison and Azamat Ishenbekov was
USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Änjali Kaur announced a new U.S. government-sponsored Green Solutions Activity in Bishkek. This five-year initiative backed by a $24 million investment aims to empower small and medium enterprises in the Kyrgyz Republic to adopt innovative green solutions, enhance energy efficiency, and increase the supply of renewable energy. “This investment marks a
The Forum of the Central Asian Women’s Dialogue “Women, Peace and Security: The Role of Women in Strengthening Peace and Security in the Central Asian region and Afghanistan” was held in Bishkek last week. It focused on the key role of women in strengthening peace and security in Central Asia and Afghanistan. The meeting aimed
On October 3, 15 years ago, the Agreement on the Establishment of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States was signed in the city of Nakhchivan, which later evolved into the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The Organization of Turkic States currently comprising Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, with Hungary and the Turkish Republic
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) says it has approved $32.35 million of additional financing for a rural water supply and sanitation development program in northern Kyrgyzstan that is already performing well. The additional financing will empower the government to continue rolling out its water program under the Kyrgyz Republic’s National Development Strategy, 2018–2040—which aims to
The Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a new strategy for the Kyrgyz Republic, defining the Bank’s priorities in the country until 2029, the Bank has announced. The strategic approach to operations in the country will be based on the following three pillars: Support for private sector competitiveness and
