On 15 December, Secretariat of the Business Development and Investments Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Regional Investment Council of Jalal-Abad Region hosted the national forum “ECO-Chatkal 2030: Investments and Climate Resilience” in Bishkek.

The event brought together representatives of government authorities, international organizations, the expert community, the private sector, and civil society to discuss the launch of a national label pilot for sustainable development in the Chatkal District, as well as the application of climate finance mechanisms.

The forum was moderated by Uluk Kydyrbaev, Head of the Secretariat of the Council under the Cabinet of Ministers.

During the forum, participants presented scientific and analytical justifications for selecting the Chatkal District as a pilot territory, discussed the institutional model of the label pilot, and outlined priority economic areas for its implementation, including green energy, organic agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises, tourism, and creative industries.

Special attention was given to opportunities for mobilizing international climate finance instruments, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), debt-for-nature and debt-for-climate swap mechanisms, as well as carbon and biodiversity credits. The importance of effective interagency coordination and institutional support for the initiative was also emphasized.

Following expert, institutional, and sectoral sessions, forum participants agreed on a final resolution containing a consolidated proposal to launch the national label pilot and climate finance mechanisms in the Chatkal District. The resolution is advisory in nature and will be officially submitted to the Administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The forum confirmed strong interest from government institutions and international partners in developing the Chatkal District as a pilot model for sustainable development of mountainous regions, and reaffirmed the role of the Regional Investment Council of Jalal-Abad Region as a key regional platform for advancing strategic development initiatives.