As part of the meetings held by the Secretariat of the Investment Council with the major industrial sector, a meeting took place between the Head of the Secretariat of the Investment Council, Uluk Kydyrbaev, and representatives of Interglass Stroy LLC, led by CEO Andreas Steinert.

The focus was on market expansion, which represents a strategic task for Interglass Stroy amidst globalization and increasing competition. Plans for entering new markets were discussed, involving not only expanding geographical presence but also adapting products to the requirements and expectations of new consumers. Issues related to improving industrial conditions were also addressed.

The shortage of skilled personnel, especially in the technical field, was highlighted as one of the key issues. Various approaches to attracting, training, and retaining specialists were discussed, including opportunities for career advancement. In this regard, the Secretariat considers close cooperation with the country's universities.

*Interglass Stroy LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Steinert Industries GmbH (Germany) specializing in glass production.

On February 15th, a meeting was held at the office of the Secretariat of the Investment Council with the team from the PPP Center, headed by Director Anarbekin Nurbek Iskenderov, to discuss current matters. The main focus was on the current status of implementing tasks assigned during the last Investment Council meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, the head of the Investment Council Secretariat, Uluk Kydyrbaev, congratulated PPP Center Director Nurbek Anarbekin on his appointment and expressed hope for fruitful cooperation.

One of the key topics of the meeting was the finalization of the draft law on public-private partnerships (PPP). Deadlines for refining this draft law and the main directions for its improvement were outlined.

The meeting also addressed issues related to increasing awareness of the importance of the PPP mechanism. Various events and initiatives were proposed for providing information support and educating the public about the advantages and prospects of PPP development.

This meeting marked an important step in the cooperation between the Investment Council Secretariat and the PPP Center aimed at developing and improving PPP mechanisms in the country.a

On February 12th, a meeting was held at the Investment Council Secretariat's office with World Bank experts as part of a technical mission scheduled for February 12–16, aimed at analyzing the business environment's favorability in the Kyrgyz Republic. The team comprises Karen Grigoryan (Senior Private Sector Development Specialist, Team Leader), Goar Gyulumyan (Senior Economist), Bakyt Dubashev (Senior Economist), Valentina Saltane (Senior Private Sector Development Specialist), Lev Freinkman (Consultant), and Nurlanbek Tynaev (Consultant). A roundtable is set for February 13th to present findings on legislative and institutional barriers to business. This analysis will not only identify current barriers but also offer solutions to overcome them, thereby strengthening the investment climate and supporting businesses of all sizes.

On January 30th, the II National Tax Forum, themed 'The Path of Digital Transformation of the Tax System,' took place in Bishkek.

The event was attended by the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, Akylbek Japarov, members of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament), representatives of government bodies, business communities, international organizations, educational institutions, entrepreneurs, and the head of the Secretariat, Uluk Kydyrbaev.

"In every country, the tax system is one of the most crucial economic regulators, serving as the foundation of the financial mechanism for state economic regulation. Taxes are the primary financial resource of the state, making effective tax management the cornerstone of overall government governance. In this context, the Tax Code serves as a socially significant instrument for the successful implementation of tax policies, guaranteeing legal interaction between the government, businesses, and citizens," noted Uluk Kydyrbaev. He also emphasized that in the current dynamic realities of our lives, with changing global trends, tax legislation should be a flagship in terms of flexibility and rapid adaptation.

The forum presented information on tax administration issues, the implementation of digital technologies, and the results of the Tax Service's activities for the year 2023.

Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov also addressed the II National Tax Forum, highlighting key points in his speech:

• Taxes not only carry obligations but also serve as a significant contribution to the country's and society's development, creating a resilient economy.
• The country's GDP has reached a historical record of 1 trillion 228.9 billion soms.
• Thanks to the enthusiasm of entrepreneurs, the national economy is becoming more resilient.
• Every investment contributes to the future, and we encourage building businesses conscientiously.
• It is essential to make the economy more transparent – a shared goal.
• Systematic work is underway to modernize, automate, and improve tax administration.
• Visualization of goods movement within the country and beyond is one of the key tasks.