Navigating Legal Challenges in the Insurance Industry

Thursday, 25 April 2024 08:51

On April 23, 2024, a meeting took place at the office of the Secretariat of the Investment Council involving members of the Kyrgyz Association of Insurers and representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Antimonopoly Regulation Service under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. The participants discussed concerns about certain provisions of the Cabinet of Ministers' decree No. 62-r dated February 22, 2024, and the Presidential Decree No. 79 dated March 20, 2024, "On Measures for the Development of the Insurance Market in the Kyrgyz Republic," which could potentially limit competition and the freedom to choose an insurance organization.

Representatives of insurance organizations expressed their gratitude to the Secretariat of the Investment Council for organizing the meeting and raised concerns about potential risks to the insurance sector associated with the new regulations. They voiced worries about risks that might arise for market participants related to fair access to the insurance services market and stressed the need for closer interaction (effective dialogue) between government bodies and the business community in developing and adopting legislation. Representatives of the authorized state bodies assured that the adopted decree and decree, as well as the draft law developed in execution, would not adversely affect the rights of participants in the insurance market.

Following the discussion, it was decided that the Kyrgyz Association of Insurers would analyze potential financial losses for insurance organizations due to current regulations, and if necessary, prepare an official appeal justifying the need for amendments to the aforementioned acts. The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, after posting the draft law for public discussion, will organize a working meeting with participants of the insurance market together with the Secretariat of the Investment Council to discuss the draft law, with the aim of facilitating interaction (dialogue) between participants of the insurance market and authorized state bodies in the development and adoption of legislation regulating the relevant industry.