On 19 September 2025, in the new building of the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in Jalal-Abad region, the expanded meeting of the Regional Investment Council (RIC) is being held.

The meeting is moderated by the Secretary of the RIC, Gulmairam Attokurova. The goal of the event is to use the RIC platform to establish an effective public-private dialogue and, by raising the awareness of the private sector, to contribute to the economic development of the region.

Participants include the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in Jalal-Abad region Tilek Tekebaev, Head of the Secretariat of the Business and Investment Development Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Uluk Kydyrbaev, UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic Alexandra Solovyeva, Director of the PPP Center under the National Investment Agency Nurbek Anarbekin, as well as representatives of government bodies, international organizations, business associations, development funds, and the business community.

In his opening remarks, the Head of the Secretariat of the Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Uluk Kydyrbaev, noted:
“Why is the Regional Investment Council (RIC) important? It is not just an advisory body. The RIC is a dialogue platform where an entrepreneur can directly voice a problem, government agencies respond, the decision is recorded in the protocol, and its implementation is monitored by the Secretariat. In other words, the RIC is a reliable platform for entrepreneurs, an effective communication mechanism for the state, and a roadmap for the development of the region.”

UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic Alexandra Solovyeva emphasized:
“The Regional Investment Council is a unique multi-sectoral platform where a wide range of issues are discussed and solutions are developed jointly, such as attracting investments, regional and local development, improving the well-being of the population, expanding growth points, developing business and entrepreneurship, including youth and women’s entrepreneurship, and the development of creative industries.”

Director of the PPP Center Nurbek Anarbekin noted:
“As of today, the PPP Center’s portfolio includes more than 90 projects with a total investment volume exceeding 5 billion US dollars. Over 50 projects are in the active implementation phase, while around 40 initiatives are undergoing preparatory stages.”

The work of the Regional Investment Councils (RICs) is carried out under the Offices of the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the regions. The activities of the RIC Secretariats are supported within the framework of a tripartite agreement between the Secretariat of the Business and Investment Development Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic, and the PPP Center under the National Investment Agency.

The work of Regional Investment Councils (RICs) carries particular importance, as they serve as a bridge between local entrepreneurs and government bodies. These are platforms for open dialogue, where businesses can clearly voice their challenges and initiatives, while state and financial institutions can listen and jointly seek solutions.

During a recent meeting in Naryn, an important part of the program was a B2B session, where entrepreneurs had the opportunity to directly address representatives of development funds, state banks, and institutions. Saltanat Eralieva, Legal Expert of the Naryn Regional Investment Council (RIC), took part in the session, recording the entrepreneurs’ requests and providing legal consultations.

At the session, entrepreneurs voiced concrete situations they face in their daily activities. Issues raised included the leasing of land plots for project implementation, access to credit resources and their conditions, as well as support for agricultural and processing industries. Separate attention was drawn to the challenges in accessing finance for certain categories of citizens in rural areas.

Special emphasis was also placed on the potential of public-private partnerships (PPP), which are increasingly seen as a practical solution to many such issues. PPP opens the door for regions to independently launch projects — from infrastructure to agro-industrial initiatives — without waiting for centralized decisions, making this mechanism especially relevant for local entrepreneurs.

Last week (September 5, 2025), a roundtable was held in Osh dedicated to the implementation of the Five-Year Action Plan for the Development of the Mountain Regions of the Kyrgyz Republic (2023–2027). The event was attended by the Special Representative of the President for Mountain Agenda Issues Dinara Kemelova, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in Osh region Elchibek Jantaev, representatives of local self-government bodies, and international organizations, including UNDP.

At this important event, the Coordinator of the Regional Investment Councils (RICs) for the southern regions, Myktybek Osmonaliev, delivered a presentation.

In his presentation, he emphasized that Osh region possesses strategic potential, including rich agro-climatic resources, a favorable transit position, and unique biodiversity. At the same time, the region faces serious challenges such as population outflow, natural disaster risks, insufficient infrastructure, and degradation of natural resources.

Within the framework of the Five-Year Action Plan, Osmonaliev highlighted that RICs can serve as a connecting platform for promoting priority sectors - deep processing of agricultural products, development of eco- and rural tourism, introduction of small hydropower plants, as well as tapping into transit and logistics potential.

The Secretariat of the Business Development and Investments Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic views the integration of the goals of the Five-Year Action Plan with the mechanisms of the RICs as a key step in advancing “green” investments, supporting local initiatives, and introducing technologies to reduce disaster risks. This approach will not only enhance the resilience of mountain regions but also transform them into a space of opportunities for both business and the population.

On September 3, 2025, Ravshanbek Sabirov, the newly appointed Director of the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uluk Kydyrbaev, Head of the Business Development and Investments Council Secretariat under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, held a working meeting. During the meeting, Kydyrbaev presented an overview of the Council’s activities, and the two parties discussed ways to strengthen the country’s investment climate and business environment.

The meeting focused on priority areas of cooperation, including measures to attract and expand foreign direct investment in the national economy. Both parties emphasized that consistently improving the investment climate through transparent and predictable business rules is essential to achieving this goal.

They also emphasized the importance of maintaining open public-private dialogue between government bodies, the business community, and investors. Such dialogue helps identify barriers faced by entrepreneurs and develop practical solutions to address them, they agreed.

Another key topic was the need to boost investment in the regions of the Kyrgyz Republic. The parties emphasized that the newly established Regional Investment Councils (RICs) are becoming important platforms for advancing local investment initiatives and building trust between the state and entrepreneurs.

The meeting also addressed joint steps related to the National Development Program of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2030 and the implementation of the new Law on Investments, which creates additional opportunities for businesses and international partners.

In closing, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation to foster a favorable investment climate, support entrepreneurship, and promote the Kyrgyz Republic as a credible partner for international investors.