Kyrgyzstan draws on UAE ties to drive reform and attract investment

I was given several key tasks. First, to maintain the growth achieved over the past four years and to create favourable and comfortable conditions for both the population and entrepreneurs.

Over the past four years, Kyrgyzstan’s average annual economic growth rate has reached 10.2 per cent. According to the International Monetary Fund, in 2024 Kyrgyzstan ranked among the top three countries worldwide in terms of real GDP growth. During this period, the state budget has tripled, while the country’s GDP has increased more than 2.5 times. These achievements demonstrate that even with limited resources, amid regional turbulence and a rapidly changing global environment, a country can set the pace for accelerated development.

To sustain these growth rates, it is essential to implement comprehensive structural reforms. In this context, in 2025, the National Development Programme of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2030 was adopted by presidential decree.

Among the key priorities of the Cabinet of Ministers are strengthening foreign economic ties, enhancing investment attractiveness and expanding international partnerships based on mutual trust, mutual benefit and practical cooperation.

Our vision is to make Kyrgyzstan an open and dynamically developing country – a reliable partner for the world, including the Gulf states, and an attractive destination for investment, technology and cultural exchange. We strive to ensure that cooperation with the UAE becomes an example of a modern and mutually beneficial partnership built on shared interests and respect.

We participate annually in the World Governments Summit. We draw on the experience of the UAE to improve public administration and implement the Government Accelerators programme. We shared our unique experience during an event held on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit.

In the Kyrgyz Republic, the programme is being actively implemented with the support of the government of the UAE. It is aimed at addressing socio-economic challenges within a 100-day timeframe. Over its implementation, 17 reforms have been carried out, and four more reforms are in process. As a result, procedures in areas such as construction, preschool education, healthcare, land legislation, international transportation and logistics have been significantly simplified. Excessive bureaucracy has been eliminated, and decision-making time has been reduced. The results of these reforms have been positively received by the public.

We took on a 44 per cent reduction target and believe we will fulfil it. We are focusing on renewable energy sources. Kyrgyzstan has enormous hydropower potential, of which only about 14 per cent is currently utilised.

We are also focusing on solar and wind energy. Construction of wind power plants has begun, and agreements totalling approximately 6,000 MW have been signed.

We place great importance on the transition to drip irrigation. The UAE has extensive experience in this area. We are preparing a project to fully transition the Issyk-Kul region to drip irrigation, ensuring greater river water flow into Lake Issyk-Kul. We are also reconstructing canals and building reservoirs across the country.

Tree planting is also a key priority, and we are implementing the Green Heritage programme. I would like to address investors from the UAE: come and invest in solar, wind and hydropower projects. We are ready to create all necessary favourable conditions so you can work comfortably and profitably.

I am fundamentally democratic. I set specific tasks for ministries and departments and personally ensure they are carried out on time and to a high standard. To many, I may seem gentle, but I am firm when it comes to work and reform.

Kyrgyzstan is a democratic and developing country that is getting back on its feet, eager to work with all nations and join the ranks of developed countries. We are ready to welcome guests, tourists and investors. Come, invest and prosper. We are located near the vast Eurasian market, with dynamic neighbours such as China and Uzbekistan, where demand for manufactured goods is high.

My message is this: welcome to Kyrgyzstan. We have a unique natural environment, and our people are kind, hardworking and hospitable. A distinctive feature of our nation is that we are deeply freedom-loving and sensitive to injustice. Today, people can see that our leadership is doing everything possible to ensure they live prosperous and fulfilling lives. I would also like to emphasise that Kyrgyzstan continues to strengthen regional cooperation, improve investment climate transparency and support long-term sustainable development projects that benefit both local communities and international partners globally.