• KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
18 February 2025

Viewing results 7 - 12 of 307

Slovakia Opens Job Opportunities for Kyrgyz Bus Drivers

The Center for Employment of Citizens Abroad, operating under the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration of Kyrgyzstan, has begun registering candidates for bus driver positions in Slovakia. The Center has signed an agreement with INDEX NOSLUS s.r.o., a Slovak company specializing in human resources management and international recruitment. “This agreement aims to strengthen bilateral ties in labor migration and create reliable conditions for Kyrgyz citizens working in Slovakia,” the Employment Center stated. Kyrgyz authorities believe the partnership will significantly increase the number of legal employment opportunities for Kyrgyz workers while ensuring transparent hiring conditions and social security protections. Plans include the development of joint programs for recruitment, training, and worker support. As part of the current recruitment process, the Employment Center will invite 50 candidates, from which 15 will be selected to work for a Slovak transportation company. Applicants must be Kyrgyz citizens between 22 and 50 years old, have experience in passenger transport, and possess a clean criminal record and no chronic illnesses. According to Slovak employment terms, workers will be paid €7.40 per hour, resulting in an average net monthly income of approximately €1,200. The Kyrgyz authorities guarantee official employment registration and social protections for those hired. Six months ago, Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh, Nurlanbek Shakiev, met with Kyrgyz labor migrants in Slovakia during an official visit. According to Shakiev, an estimated 4,000 Kyrgyz citizens are currently employed in Slovakia. Kyrgyz officials are also considering the opening of an embassy in Slovakia to support and protect the interests of Kyrgyz nationals working there. In addition to Slovakia, the United Kingdom and Italy have also signed official agreements with Kyrgyzstan for seasonal employment programs. Today, tens of thousands of Kyrgyz workers are employed in these countries.

Kyrgyzstan Facilitates Group Travel Tourism from China

On February 4, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce and China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism signed a memorandum in Beijing aimed at facilitating organized group travel from China to Kyrgyzstan. The agreement was signed during Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov’s state visit to China and is expected to boost Kyrgyzstan’s tourism industry and contribute to economic growth. According to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce, 127,956 Chinese citizens visited the country in 2024, marking a 56% increase from 70,842 visitors in 2023. China has also included Kyrgyzstan on its list of recommended destinations for individual Chinese travelers. In October 2024, Kyrgyzstan introduced a visa-free regime for organized Chinese tour groups for stays of up to 21 days. The move aims to strengthen Kyrgyz-Chinese public diplomacy and enhance the country’s appeal to one of the world’s largest outbound tourism markets. Kyrgyzstan’s tourism industry has been experiencing steady growth in recent years. The country was expected to welcome more than 10.5 million foreign tourists in 2024, up from 8.5 million in 2023. In the first eight months of 2024, Kyrgyzstan recorded 6.1 million foreign visitors, with the majority coming from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Other significant sources of tourists included Turkey, China, India, Germany, Pakistan, the United States, and South Korea.

Kyrgyzstan Raises First Sovereign Bond to Mitigate China’s Growing Influence

On February 4, Kyrgyz president Sadyr Japarov embarked on a four-day state visit to China, visiting Beijing and the northern city of Harbin for the opening ceremony of the 2025 Asian Winter Games. The visit comes against a backdrop of increasing engagement between Bishkek and Beijing. Temur Umarov, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, says that certain groups within the government are worried about an overreliance on China. “This is the problem of the current political leadership,” Umarov says. “They want to do more with China … they want to have more investment from China, but they have this debt that they inherited from the previous administrations.” Indeed, 36.7% of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign debt is now owed to the Export-Import Bank of China (Exim Bank), Beijing’s state-run lender which traditionally deals with foreign investments. China is also responsible for 46% of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade. With Russia hemorrhaging influence in the region amid its ongoing war in Ukraine, accessing new sources of investment has risen up the agenda in Bishkek. The Name’s Bond A key plank of these diversification attempts was put forward on January 13, when the Minister of Economy and Commerce, Bakyt Sydykov, announced plans to raise $1.7 billion through the sale of ten-year sovereign bonds in Hong Kong. “The country intends to tap into the international market for the first time,” Sydykov said. “We want to use Hong Kong’s role as a financial center to attract more potential investors, probably more diversified investors.” For Iskender Sharsheyev, an economist, this turn to the global markets cannot come soon enough. “This should have happened thirty years ago,” he says. Sharsheyev notes that the groundwork has been laid over the last few years, with ratings agency Moody’s reaffirming its B3 credit rating last year and projecting a “stable” outlook for the country. The yield of these bonds has yet to be announced, although Sharsheyev expects it to be reasonably high. “We expect that [the yield] will be worse for our country than for other countries, because, firstly, we are just entering. Secondly, the new flow of cash into the country could create risks; it can also spur inflation.” However, the high yield and the risk is seen as worth the cost. “The bond offering is an example of how Kyrgyzstan is trying to balance out its debt portfolio and have diversified ties with different creditors,” says Umarov. He notes that this mirrors a trend seen across Central Asia, where bonds have not traditionally been used as a means of fundraising but have become increasingly popular over recent years. In October 2024, Kazakhstan issued its first dollar-denominated Eurobond since 2015, the 10-year bond raising $1.5 billion with a yield of 4.714%. Sharsheyev believes that some of the proceeds of the bond sale will be used specifically to head off debts to Beijing. “China is the main [source of] pressure. To maintain sovereignty, we have begun to service the external debt. Our country has spent an average of $400-500 million on paying...

Japarov Highlights China as Key Trade and Investment Partner for Kyrgyzstan

Ahead of his state visit to China, which began on February 4, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov highlighted the strategic partnership between the two countries in an interview with Xinhua news agency. He described China as one of Kyrgyzstan’s main trade and investment partners. The full interview was published on Japarov’s official website. Strengthening Bilateral Ties Japarov underscored the value of the long-standing comprehensive strategic partnership between Kyrgyzstan and China. "In recent years, our countries have significantly strengthened mutual trust and built a relationship based on good neighborliness, friendship, and productive cooperation," he said. One of the most significant projects in Kyrgyz-Chinese cooperation is the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, officially launched in Kyrgyzstan on December 27, 2024. Japarov emphasized that the railway aligns with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative and reflects the high level of political trust between the three countries. "This route is more than just a transport corridor. It will facilitate the delivery of goods from China to Kyrgyzstan and further to Central Asia, the Middle East, Turkey, Europe, and beyond. It will also allow our products to reach South and Southeast Asia," he stated. Expanding Economic Cooperation Japarov reiterated that China has long been one of Kyrgyzstan’s key trade and investment partners. In 2024, bilateral trade turnover reached $22.71 billion. He expressed support for expanding Kyrgyz-Chinese economic cooperation in various sectors, including agriculture, the processing industry, energy, and environmental protection. He also advocated for increased collaboration between regions, the creation of a banking and financial platform, and the development of e-commerce. Enhancing Trade and Border Connectivity To improve trade efficiency, Kyrgyzstan and China are working to increase the transit capacity of the two existing border checkpoints - Torugart and Irkeshtam. Japarov also expressed hope that opening a third border checkpoint at Bedel would further boost trade flows between China and Central Asia. He noted that trade and economic cooperation have accelerated, as seen in the extended working hours at the Torugart and Irkeshtam checkpoints. Previously, the Chinese side operated these crossings for eight hours a day, five days a week. However, in 2024, they transitioned to 14-hour operations, seven days a week. "Since March 1, 2024, the Kyrgyz side has switched to a round-the-clock working schedule at both Torugart and Irkeshtam. We expect our Chinese partners to follow suit," Japarov said. Agricultural and Digital Trade Initiatives Japarov also highlighted ongoing efforts to promote the export of Kyrgyzstan’s environmentally friendly agricultural products to China. Additionally, both countries are implementing the Two Countries, Two Parks project in Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region, linking the Kashgar (China) and Naryn (Kyrgyzstan) free economic zones. The initiative aims to enhance e-commerce between Kyrgyzstan and China’s Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Kyrgyzstan’s Leadership and U.S. Partnership in Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan, or the Kyrgyz Republic, may be one of the smallest nations in Central Asia by population, but it has consistently played an outsized role in the region’s history and geopolitics. From bold governmental experiments to fostering regional cooperation, Kyrgyzstan continues to exceed expectations. Under President Sadyr Japarov’s leadership, the nation has made substantial progress in diplomacy, economic reform, and cultural preservation, while strengthening its relationships with the United States. On January 29, 2025, the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute located at the American Foreign Policy Council and TCA co-hosted a virtual event to examine the evolving U.S.-Kyrgyz bilateral relationship. The event focused on economic collaboration, security cooperation, cultural and educational exchanges, and a shared commitment to democratic values. It underscored the strengthening ties between the nations and their joint efforts to promote growth and stability in the region. Dr. S. Frederick Starr, Chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council, led a panel of experts, including Dr. Almazbek Beishenaliev, Professor at the Regional Institute of Central Asia, and Elena Son, Executive Director of the U.S.–Kyrgyzstan Business Council. Together, they explored Kyrgyzstan's diplomatic milestones, economic collaborations, and its rising profile in Central Asia. A Journey Toward Democracy and Cultural Significance Dr. Starr recounted Kyrgyzstan’s transition from Soviet rule to a developing democracy after gaining independence in 1991. Its first president, Askar Akayev, charted a vision of neutrality and openness, once calling Kyrgyzstan the "Switzerland of Central Asia." The nation experimented with a parliamentary system before reverting to a presidential model under President Japarov. Despite facing challenges, Kyrgyzstan remains culturally influential, particularly through the works of Chingiz Aitmatov, whose literary contributions continue to resonate across the globe. Transformative Leadership Under President Japarov President Japarov’s leadership since 2020 has, as highlighted by Dr. Starr, been marked by critical national reforms aimed at fostering stability and modernization. These efforts include tackling corruption, reclaiming control over vital national assets such as the Kumtor gold mine, and prioritizing energy and infrastructure investments to ensure long-term growth. Dr. Starr also emphasized President Japarov’s success in uniting Kyrgyzstan’s historically divided northern and southern regions. By enhancing connectivity through new transportation networks, such as airports and roads, Japarov has created economic opportunities while promoting national cohesion. On the regional front, Dr. Starr pointed to the landmark summit hosted by President Japarov in 2022 at Cholpon-Ata. This pivotal meeting resulted in agreements on 26 collaborative initiatives aimed at advancing shared objectives, further demonstrating Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to regional leadership and cooperative development within Central Asia. Strengthening Ties with the United States Dr. Almazbek Beishenaliev, Professor at the Regional Institute of Central Asia and former Minister of Education of Kyrgyzstan, highlighted the growth of U.S.-Kyrgyz relations, which date back to Kyrgyzstan’s independence in 1991. The U.S. played a key role in Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 1998 and has provided substantial support over the last three decades, with $9 billion in assistance to Central Asia, $50 billion in loans, and investments exceeding $31 billion. These initiatives...

Kazakhstan’s Alageum Electric to Build Transformer Plant in Kyrgyzstan to Boost Power Grid

Alageum Electric, the largest transformer producer in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, plans to build an electric transformer manufacturing plant in Kyrgyzstan. The project was discussed on January 29 during a meeting in Kazakhstan between Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Energy, Taalaibek Ibrayev, and the founder of Alageum Electric, Saidulla Kozhabayev. According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy, Kozhabayev confirmed his readiness to cooperate on the plant’s construction. A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between the Ministry and Alageum Electric, and construction could begin this year. During his visit, Minister Ibrayev toured Alageum Electric’s production facilities to observe the transformer manufacturing process. Transformers are a critical component of Kyrgyzstan’s aging power distribution grid, which struggles to handle surging electricity consumption during the cold winter months. Increased reliance on electric heating in winter often overloads grid infrastructure, forcing power distribution companies to switch users to alternative feeders. This results in temporary outages lasting one to two hours. The Ministry of Energy explains that such measures are necessary to prevent critical equipment, such as expensive transformers, from failing. For example, a 220 kV transformer with a capacity of 250 MW costs $1.5 million and requires 150 days for manufacturing and delivery, followed by one to one and a half months for installation. Collaboration with Alageum Electric will enable Kyrgyzstan to begin domestic production of much-needed transformers at lower costs while modernizing the country’s power distribution grid. The initiative is expected to improve energy infrastructure resilience and reduce dependency on imported equipment.