On April 24, a media briefing was held in Bishkek to present the outcomes of the nationwide information and consultation campaign "Business Enlightenment Caravan." The event aimed to inform the public about the current state of the business environment in the regions of the Kyrgyz Republic, discuss systemic barriers faced by entrepreneurs, and review ongoing debureaucratization efforts.

The briefing featured the following speakers:

• Kubanychbek Yssabekov - Deputy Chairman of the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic;
• Bakytbek Sartmametov - Head of the Legal Department of the JIA Business Association;
• Bakytbek Samakov - Chief Legal Expert of the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic;
• Cholpon Asakeeva - Public-Private Partnership Expert of the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The briefing marked the conclusion of the "Business Enlightenment Caravan," which took place from March 25 to April 22, 2025. The campaign was jointly initiated by the JIA Business Association and the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic. It covered all regions of the country — from Issyk-Kul to Batken — including key cities such as Tokmok and Kara-Balta (9 locations in total). Throughout the campaign, over 2,000 entrepreneurs representing small and medium-sized businesses participated in educational and advisory sessions.

Participants focused on issues such as tax administration, the use of cash registers, implementation of the tax amnesty, access to financial products, the development of PPP mechanisms, and regional entrepreneurship.

A key outcome of the campaign was the development of proposals aimed at eliminating systemic barriers. These proposals were submitted to the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives and discussed with the State Tax Service. It was emphasized that local business associations should be formalized as stable communication channels, and that regional investment councils and mobile advisory groups should be launched to enhance engagement with entrepreneurs in remote areas.

The organizers expressed gratitude to all partners of the campaign, including the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the President in the regions, local city halls, ministries, the PPP Center, state banks, and development funds. Special thanks were extended to Sputnik Kyrgyzstan for providing the venue for the briefing.

The results of the “Business Enlightenment Caravan” reaffirmed that a stable and productive dialogue between the state and business is possible when it is built on openness, mutual respect, and shared responsibility for the country’s development.

On April 22, 2025, the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic hosted a meeting between the Head of the Secretariat, Uluk Kydyrbaev, his team, and a delegation from Japan comprising experts from ArkEdge Space and Gaia Vision. The meeting was held as part of efforts to expand international cooperation in the fields of satellite technology, natural resource monitoring, and climate change adaptation.

The Japanese delegation included:

• Tomonori Deguchi and Chikako Murakami, specialists from the Remote Sensing Department at Ark Edge Space,
• Satoru Demoto, Co-Founder of Gaia Vision,
• Eiji Matsuyama, Founder and CEO of Maccam.

During the presentation, representatives of ArkEdge Space highlighted the potential of next-generation microsatellites for water resource monitoring, flood forecasting, and IoT communications. Special attention was given to initiatives involving the launch of microsatellites with international partners, including the Kyrgyz Republic, with which memoranda of understanding have already been signed.

Gaia Vision presented its advanced climate analytics platform, based on the Global River Hydrodynamics Model developed by the University of Tokyo. This system enables highly accurate flood risk forecasting, damage assessment, and the development of mitigation strategies. The presentation also included examples of how Gaia Vision’s tools are successfully integrated into strategic planning and corporate climate risk reporting (TNFD).

The parties discussed potential areas for cooperation, including:

• implementing pilot projects for monitoring water resources and natural disasters in the Kyrgyz Republic,
• integrating satellite data into strategic planning and agriculture, including soil analysis, crop planning, and yield forecasting,
• applying satellite data for infrastructure development,
• fostering academic and scientific exchange in the field of space technologies.

The meeting marked an important step toward deepening cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and Japan in high technology and sustainable development.

The Association of Cross-Border E-Commerce and Logistics of the Kyrgyz Republic has officially joined the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.

This important development opens new opportunities for the Association to actively participate in shaping the investment and business climate in the country.

As noted by Marcel Salakhunov, President of the Association:
“Joining the Investment Council creates favorable conditions for close cooperation between Association members and the Cabinet of Ministers, particularly through direct engagement with the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers.
It provides a platform to directly convey business proposals to the country’s leadership and relevant ministries, as well as to raise and collaboratively address pressing issues in the field of cross-border e-commerce and logistics.”

During the meeting, participants also discussed joint activities planned for the coming months, aimed at sector development, supporting entrepreneurs, and attracting investment.

The Association will continue working to create a favorable ecosystem for the growth of e-commerce and logistics in Kyrgyzstan — in partnership with the government, the private sector, and international partners.

On April 22, 2025, the final meeting of the nationwide informational and advisory campaign "Business Enlightenment Caravan" took place at the International University of Kyrgyzstan. Over 150 participants—representatives of businesses, government agencies, and expert communities—discussed key systemic challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the capital.

A special focus was placed on tax administration issues. Participants raised concerns about penalties for technical errors in reporting and discrepancies between actual and declared turnover. Representatives of the State Tax Service (STS) emphasized that tax policy is shifting from a "punitive" to a "service-oriented" approach and invited businesses to submit specific proposals for improving procedures.

One of the central topics was the implementation of tax amnesty. It was clarified that debt relief applies only to uncontested liabilities, while court-ordered debts cannot be canceled. Participants also discussed recent relaxations, such as the removal of penalties for the absence of primary documentation for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), seen as a step toward easing burdens on small entrepreneurs.

A lively debate arose over the proposal to introduce a taxpayer rating system. STS representatives confirmed that, under the President’s directive, work has begun on developing such a model. Within this system, compliant taxpayers could gain access to additional benefits—examples discussed included potential tax reductions and preferential financing. This approach aims to incentivize transparent and honest business practices.

Other topics included:

• Business interactions with customs and tax authorities in foreign trade,
• Challenges in transitioning to digital reporting,
• Procedures for writing off goods from virtual warehouses,
• The future of the patent system.

The Bishkek meeting concluded a large-scale initiative that covered all regions of the country. As in previous stages, it facilitated not only information exchange but also direct dialogue—with concrete questions and solution-seeking. All proposals collected during the meetings will be compiled and submitted to relevant authorities for further review and potential implementation.

Parallel to the panel sessions, entrepreneurs could receive individual consultations in the theater's foyer. Consultation zones were organized with representatives from development funds, state banks, and insurance companies.

The campaign is organized by the JIA Business Association and the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, with the support of the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the President in the regions, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration, the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Finance, the Center for Public-Private Partnership under NAIA, the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Land and Water Oversight Service under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, the EBRD, the OSCE Program Office, UNDP, and the Center for Business Support.