On July 21, 2025, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic hosted an interagency coordination meeting dedicated to one of the key areas of administrative reform — the optimization of the licensing and permitting system under the framework of the “regulatory guillotine.”

The meeting featured reports from representatives of ministries, government agencies, and partner organizations, including Bakyt Samakov, Legal Expert of the Secretariat of the Investment Council. In his remarks, he emphasized that the Secretariat is coordinating work with business associations — members of the Investment Council — to collect, structure, and analyze proposals aimed at eliminating excessive administrative barriers and simplifying regulatory procedures.

He also recalled that on July 17, the Secretariat hosted a dedicated working meeting with representatives of business associations, marking the start of practical cooperation with the private sector within the “regulatory guillotine” initiative. During that meeting, the format for business feedback and the mechanism for submitting proposals were agreed upon. The next step will be to consolidate the proposals and forward them to the Interagency Commission on Inventory.

At the meeting, deputy-level representatives of government agencies presented updates on the implementation of Government Resolution No. 552-r, including the progress of the inventory process, preparation of legal reviews, and suggestions for improving procedures. It was noted that only 33 out of 36 government bodies and agencies submitted proposals and initiatives with supporting justifications. The organizers of the meeting called on the remaining institutions to intensify their efforts in this area.

The event brought together representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Ministry of Justice, the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Secretariat of the Investment Council, business associations — members of the Council — as well as relevant ministries and agencies that are part of the Interagency Commission.

The meeting was held pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 83 dated March 10, 2025 and Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 552-r dated June 30, 2025. The goal of the reform is to significantly reduce bureaucratic barriers, eliminate outdated and duplicative requirements, and enhance the transparency and efficiency of the permitting system.

On July 23, 2025, a regular meeting of the Regional Investment Council (RIC) was held at the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Osh region. The event brought together Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative Ilyaz Tashbayev, Head of the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers Uluk Kydyrbaev, heads of district administrations, representatives of business associations, donor organizations, and civil society.

The meeting focused on key issues such as improving the region’s investment attractiveness, developing public-private partnership mechanisms, and preparing the Osh Region Investment Map. The updated composition of the Council was officially approved based on institutional nominations.

One of the success stories highlighted was the construction of the bypass road in Uzgen city through a PPP model. Participants proposed replicating this approach in other districts. In addition, a proposal from the “MEDIMPEX” company regarding the relocation of a football field was discussed and supported.

Several joint proposals were adopted to guide the Council’s next steps. Participants emphasized the Council’s importance as a key mechanism for ensuring sustainable regional development.

As part of the institutionalization process of RICs, the Secretariat of the Regional Investment Council in Osh Region has recently begun its operations. The Secretariat team includes:

– Head of the Secretariat: Taalaybek Azimov
– Legal Expert: Kyshtarbekov Kyialbek
– Economist / PPP Specialist: Dzhangeldiev Karatay

RICs serve as the gateway for businesses to engage in dialogue with government, acting as a regional development tool that allows each region to define its priorities and implement them effectively with the continuous support of the Secretariat.

The work of the Regional Investment Council and the launch of its Secretariat in the Osh region are part of a nationwide effort to strengthen public-private dialogue. This initiative is implemented within the framework of a trilateral cooperation agreement between the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Kyrgyz Republic, and the PPP Center under the National Investment Agency, with active support from the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the President in the regions.

On July 16, 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic adopted Resolution No. 420. This resolution introduced amendments to the Regulation of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers. The original version of this regulation was approved by Resolution No. 253 on May 16, 2022.

According to the amendments, the Council has officially been renamed the Business Development and Investments Council. The updated regulation also incorporates several functional and procedural elements that the Council had already implemented in recent years.

Summary of Key Amendments:
▪️Renaming the Council and updating legal references accordingly.
▪️Reinforcement of existing functions, including:
· Promotion of sustainable and environmentally responsible investment.
· Organization of consultations, forums, and seminars.
· Establishment of an online platform for receiving complaints and suggestions from the private sector.
· Monitoring the implementation of investment projects and providing recommendations to public authorities.
· Research and analysis of systemic issues affecting the business and investment climate.

▪️Council's new members:
· Inclusion of the head of the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives under the president of the Kyrgyz Republic.
· Inclusion of a representative of the National Academy of Sciences.

▪️Procedural changes:
· A new procedural requirement has been introduced, whereby Council meeting agendas and proposed decisions must be submitted in advance for approval by the authorized state body for economic development and entrepreneurship support, as well as the relevant sectoral ministries.

The resolution will enter into force 15 calendar days following its official publication.

Secretariat of the Council reaffirms its commitment to ensuring a transparent and inclusive platform for dialogue between the public and private sectors. This commitment aligns with the Council's ongoing mission of supporting evidence-based policymaking and improving the business environment in the Kyrgyz Republic.

On July 17, 2025, a working meeting was held at the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic to mark the launch of one of the country’s key institutional reforms this year — a comprehensive revision of the licensing and permitting system, as part of the so-called “regulatory guillotine.” This initiative is being implemented pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 83 of March 10, 2025, and Cabinet Resolution No. 552-r of June 30, 2025. Its goal is to eliminate excessive, outdated, and duplicative procedures in order to simplify doing business and improve the efficiency of public administration.

While the term “regulatory guillotine” is not new, this time the reform has taken on a strategic dimension. It is not merely a technical inventory exercise, but a full reassessment of the philosophy of regulation in the country. For the first time, the focus is not on ministerial approaches, but on open dialogue with the business community, with full involvement of industry associations in developing proposed changes. The working meeting at the Investment Council demonstrated exactly that — the private sector’s readiness not only to raise concerns but to constructively participate in shaping new rules.

The significance of the meeting was further underscored by a proposal from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce and the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives (NISI) under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, which suggested designating the Secretariat of the Investment Council as the coordination channel for collecting, structuring, and processing all proposals from business associations as part of the reform. This reinforces the role of the Investment Council as a platform for public-private dialogue capable of aligning the interests of both government and the private sector in a single space.

The Secretariat’s task is to establish a process for submitting initiatives, conducting expert reviews, preparing consolidated positions, and, where necessary, supporting their consideration by the Commission responsible for determining the “fate” of individual permitting documents.

During the meeting, representatives of business associations confirmed their readiness to contribute and submit specific proposals for improving regulation in their respective sectors. Discussions focused not only on administrative barriers and costs but also on more advanced approaches — such as introducing elements of self-regulation, digitalizing procedures, and delegating certain functions to industry associations. Participants emphasized that the reform presents a rare opportunity for systemic change — provided the dialogue remains consistent and mechanisms transparent.

In the near future, the Secretariat of the Investment Council will send out a special proposal submission form developed by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce to business associations. This form will help standardize incoming recommendations and ensure compatibility with the logic of institutional analysis. Once consolidated, the proposals will be submitted to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce and NISI and will serve as a basis for discussion within the Interagency Commission established under Ministry Order No. 110 of July 7, 2025. The Commission is tasked with conducting a full inventory of regulatory acts, assessing their relevance, legal basis, and impact on the business environment, and preparing decisions on their repeal, simplification, or transformation.

The July 17 meeting clearly demonstrated the importance of timely business involvement in shaping systemic reforms. The Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers — fulfilling its role as a platform for sustainable and results-oriented dialogue — has become the natural point of entry for expert proposals from the private sector. This model of engagement confirms that a structured and transparent approach to working with the business community can enhance the quality of decision-making and improve the effectiveness of reforms. It is also a good example of how government institutions and the private sector can and should work together when shaping regulatory policy.