Last week, a meeting was held at the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic to discuss a proposal for developing a legal and regulatory framework on self-regulatory organizations (SROs) in the country.

The meeting was attended by Uluk Kydyrbaev, Head of the Secretariat; Bakyt Samakov, Chief Legal Expert; Almazbek Musabekov, Chief Economic Expert; and members of the Investment Council - Sergey Ponomarev, President of the Association of Markets, Trade Enterprises and Services; Tatyana Kim, Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of Tax Consultants of the Kyrgyz Republic; and Ivan Geletyuk, Head of the Secretariat of the National Alliance of Business Associations (NABA).

The key focus of the discussion was the significance of this initiative in improving the business environment - particularly in terms of reducing bureaucracy, enhancing transparency, and increasing the efficiency of interactions between entrepreneurs and public authorities.

Self-regulatory organizations are associations of entrepreneurs - either sectoral or professional - to which the government delegates a range of regulatory and oversight functions. During the meeting, participants noted that introducing the SRO mechanism would allow the business community to take a more active role in regulating its own sectors, thereby helping to reduce excessive bureaucracy.

By transferring certain public functions to industry-specific associations - such as certification, categorization, and participation in compliance monitoring - administrative burdens on both businesses and public institutions could be reduced.

International practices were cited, where business-government interaction is often carried out through associations. This approach is expected to improve the transparency of rulemaking and ensure that the interests of the business community are considered at early stages of policy development.

Mechanisms for SRO accreditation and the participation of a broad range of associations in dialogue with the state are intended to ensure a balance of interests and a competitive environment among business associations.

Participants agreed that the development of a modern legal framework for self-regulatory organizations is both timely and necessary to further improve the country’s investment climate.

The Secretariat of the Investment Council will continue its work on the draft legal act on SROs in cooperation with associations and taking into account the proposals voiced during the discussion.

On July 29, 2025, a regional training seminar was held in Jalal-Abad Province at the initiative of the Regional Investment Council (RIC) under the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the region. The event focused on the institutionalization of RICs and the practical implementation of public-private partnership (PPP) mechanisms.

The seminar was chaired by the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in Jalal-Abad Province, Tilek Tekebaev, and was attended by heads and deputy heads of districts and cities, specialists in investment and PPP, and representatives of small and medium-sized businesses. Remote districts such as Chatkal, Toguz-Toro, Toktogul, and the city of Kara-Kul joined the discussion via video conference.

Participants received detailed information on approaches to developing and implementing PPP projects, the role of RICs in this process, and the potential use of the regional Investment Map as a coordination and initiative-promotion tool. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of establishing continuous cooperation with the RIC Secretariat, supporting business initiatives on the ground, and developing actionable proposals.

Mr. Tekebaev noted that as of July 17, 2025, the Regional Investment Council of Jalal-Abad Province has been officially relaunched and has begun active operations. He instructed local government leaders to designate responsible focal points for engagement with the RIC Secretariat, develop PPP project proposals, and contribute to the formation of a regional Investment Map by the end of the year.

At the conclusion of the seminar, participants discussed proposals to expand the province’s investment potential and further develop PPP mechanisms at the local level.

The activities of Regional Investment Councils are carried out within the framework of a tripartite 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.

On July 24, Uluk Kydyrbaev, Head of the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, held an official meeting with Tilek Tekebaev, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in Jalal-Abad region.

The meeting was also attended by Myktybek Osmonaliev, Coordinator of Investment Council Secretariats for the southern regions, Gulmayram Attokurova, Head of the Secretariat of the Regional Investment Council (RIC) of Jalal-Abad region, and legal expert Aizhat Birimkulova.

The dialogue focused on the institutionalization of the RIC and the establishment of sustainable partnerships between government institutions, local self-governance bodies, and the business community. Participants discussed the objectives of the Investment Council in systematically improving the business climate, implementing mechanisms for legal protection of entrepreneurs, and promoting the public-private partnership (PPP) model as a key tool for modernizing the regional economy.

The importance of the regional context was particularly emphasized, as Jalal-Abad region possesses significant investment potential, including cross-border trade, agro-processing, tourism, and the development of transport and logistics infrastructure. In this context, the RIC Secretariat will act as a coordination center focused on supporting initiatives, identifying obstacles, and formulating proposals to improve conditions for local entrepreneurship.

Similar meetings were previously held in Naryn and Osh regions, including at the offices of the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the President. In the near future, working visits are planned to other regions of the country to further strengthen the RIC network and expand direct dialogue with the regions.

These activities are implemented within the framework of a tripartite cooperation agreement between the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic, and the PPP Center under the National Investment Agency.

On July 23, 2025, an expanded collegium meeting was held at the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Osh Region, dedicated to summarizing the region’s socio-economic development for the first half of the year. For the first time, the Secretariat of the Regional Investment Council (RIC) was invited to participate, delivering a dedicated presentation on its activities.

Taalaibek Azimov, Head of the RIC Secretariat in Osh Region, presented the Council’s key objectives and current priorities, emphasizing its mission as a platform for open dialogue between business, government, and civil society. He placed particular emphasis on the support of public-private partnership (PPP) projects, identifying local barriers faced by entrepreneurs, and building sustainable solutions in coordination with local administrations.

As a result of the presentation, the collegium formally mandated all district and city administrations, ayil okmotu (local self-governments), and relevant public services to ensure active cooperation with the RIC Secretariat. This is expected to enhance effectiveness in investment promotion, project support, and the advancement of regional priorities at the national level.

The data presented during the collegium also reflects a positive dynamic: in the first six months of 2025, 58 new production facilities were launched in the region, creating over 700 jobs. More than KGS 9.2 billion in investments were attracted, including substantial contributions from development funds. This underscores the importance of coordinated efforts among all stakeholders involved in the region’s development.

The participation of the RIC in the collegium marked another step toward its institutionalization and affirmed its role as a permanent mechanism for supporting business and investment initiatives in the region.