EBRD Conference in Bishkek Focuses on Growth, Resilience and Partnership
On 16 October, Bishkek hosted the annual regional conference of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) titled “Nurturing SMEs: Bigger and Better” — a key platform for discussing the future of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Central Asia and Mongolia, organised with the support of development partners.
The official opening was delivered by representatives of donor organizations and Ayten Rustamova, EBRD Director for the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The conference brought together representatives of government institutions, business associations, financial organizations, and international partners. Participants discussed how EBRD support helps companies overcome growth barriers, embrace digitalization and sustainable (ESG) solutions to enhance competitiveness, and explored which economic trends will shape the region’s development towards 2030.
Simone Ze Atanasovski (Associate Director, SME F&D (ASB), Central Asia and Mongolia) and Bakay Zhunushov (Principal Manager, ASB, EBRD Kyrgyz Republic) moderated the sessions. The keynote address, “Global Shifts and Regional Outlook: Central Asia and Mongolia in a Changing World”, was delivered online by Ana Kresic, EBRD Regional Head for Policy, Central Asia and Mongolia.
Regional Economy: Trends, Risks, and Opportunities
The conference program featured strategic presentations, practical sessions, and a foresight discussion titled “Economy of Central Asia: Trends, Risks, and Opportunities 2025–2030”, moderated by foresight expert Oleg Mezik.
Speakers noted that Central Asia is undergoing an active phase of economic transformation, driven by new models of cooperation between the public and private sectors, a shift towards a green economy, and rapid technological advancement — with artificial intelligence taking an increasingly prominent role.
The Kyrgyz Republic: New PPP Models and Investment Opportunities
The Kyrgyz Republic was represented at the foresight session by Cholpon Asakeeva, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Expert at the Secretariat of the Business Development and Investments Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.
In her address, she presented an overview of PPP development in the Kyrgyz Republic and highlighted the role of Regional Investment Councils (RICs) as sustainable dialogue platforms between business and government. She noted that PPPs are evolving beyond investment attraction mechanisms to become effective tools for regional development and for engaging SMEs in large infrastructure projects.
According to the PPP Center, the national portfolio includes over 90 projects with a total investment volume exceeding 434 billion KGS, while 10 new agreements worth more than USD 3.18 billion were signed in 2025 alone.
Practical Solutions and EBRD Instruments
During expert sessions, participants discussed successful case studies in logistics, digital transformation, and ESG integration. Special attention was given to innovative EBRD instruments — such as Outcome-Linked Loans and the Risk Sharing Facility — which enable businesses to expand while reducing environmental risks and promoting sustainable growth.
Regional Dialogue and Next Steps
The conference concluded with a networking session, where representatives from business and government discussed new joint initiatives and future steps to strengthen dialogue and cooperation across the region.
The Bishkek conference reaffirmed the EBRD’s commitment to supporting the sustainable growth of SMEs in Central Asia through partnership, innovation, and inclusive development.