Today, on May 24, the Secretariat of the Investment Council held an online meeting with the executive team of Outpost Eurasia, represented by Nazim Turdumambetov and Oleg Abdurashitov. During the meeting, Uluk Kydyrbaev, Head of the Secretariat, delivered a comprehensive presentation about the Investment Council and its ongoing initiatives aimed at improving the investment climate in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Outpost Eurasia team shared insights about their consulting firm's services, which support public policy and government affairs initiatives across several countries, including the Kyrgyz Republic. Their expertise spans policy analysis, stakeholder mapping, public affairs consulting, advocacy, policy communications, ESG consulting, and CSR initiatives:

• Conducting thorough research and evaluating both existing and proposed policies to anticipate regulatory changes and assess their potential impact.
• Identifying and prioritizing key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and think tanks, and planning engagement strategies.
• Designing effective advocacy strategies, including public relations, lobbying efforts, and grassroots outreach.
• Developing tailored communication strategies for diverse audiences, transforming policy objectives into compelling narratives.
• Analyzing organizations' ESG practices and CSR initiatives, benchmarking against industry standards, and producing comprehensive sustainability reports.

The meeting fostered a robust discussion on potential areas of cooperation between the Investment Council and Outpost Eurasia. Both parties expressed a strong interest in collaborating on projects that could enhance the regulatory environment and support sustainable development in the Kyrgyz Republic.

On May 23, 2024, the Secretariat of the Investment Council took part in the Stakeholder Meeting of the EBRD Small Business Initiative for the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The event was a hybrid meeting held at the Orion Hotel in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, bringing together donors, stakeholders, entrepreneurs, and representatives from the EBRD.

Uluk Kydyrbaev, Head of the Investment Council Secretariat, participated in the event and provided an overview of the Investment Council's activities. He highlighted the Council's role in fostering a favorable business environment and facilitating dialogue between the government and the private sector to address key economic issues. Kydyrbaev also discussed the Council's initiatives aimed at improving the investment climate and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The meeting featured various sessions, including program updates from the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and discussions on financing instruments such as the Risk Sharing Facility, Outcome Linked Loans, and Women in Business (WiB) credit lines. The event provided a platform for stakeholders to share insights, discuss challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration to enhance the growth and development of SMEs in the region..

The Secretariat of the Investment Council expresses its gratitude to the EBRD and all participants for their active engagement and productive discussions. The Secretariat looks forward to continued collaboration to support economic development and investment in the Kyrgyz Republic.

On May 22, 2024, the first meeting of the Advisory Group on Improving the Activities of Development Funds and State Banks was held at the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic. The meeting focused on discussing emerging issues and developing consolidated proposals. This Advisory Group was formed following the decision of the Investment Council on May 6, 2024, to create a permanent dialogue platform involving business associations, development funds, state banks, and authorized government bodies.

During the meeting, the composition and Work Plan of the Advisory Group were reviewed. Proposals were discussed to improve the mechanisms for interaction between the business community and the development of financial institutions to create favorable conditions for access to finance.

The Advisory Group includes representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic, the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, the PPP Center under the National Investment Agency, the State Development Bank, Aiyl Bank, RSK Bank, the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund, the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund, the Hungarian-Kyrgyz Development Fund, the Social Partnership Fund for Regional Development, the International Business Council, the Agro-Industrial Complex Development Association, the JIA Association, and the Union of Banks of the Kyrgyz Republic.