Our People > Sergey Kwan

Sergey Kwan

Journalist

Sergey Kwan has worked for The Times of Central Asia as a journalist, translator and editor since its foundation in March 1999. Prior to this, from 1996-1997, he worked as a translator at The Kyrgyzstan Chronicle, and from 1997-1999, as a translator at The Central Asian Post.
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Kwan studied at the Bishkek Polytechnic Institute from 1990-1994, before completing his training in print journalism in Denmark.

Articles

Snow Leopard Conservation

Kyrgyzstan Opens Snow Leopard Research and Rehabilitation Center

A research and rehabilitation center for snow leopards, named Ak Ilbirs, opened on October 23 in Kyrgyzstan. The facility, located in the village of Ananyevo on the shores of Issyk-Kul, will study snow leopard behavior and support efforts to increase the animals' numbers. The opening coincided with International Snow Leopard Day. Russia's Republic of Tatarstan helped establish the center; its leader, Rustam Minnikhanov, attended the ceremony alongside Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev. Snow leopards inhabit mountainous regions across 12 Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the species as vulnerable, with their numbers threatened by poaching and dwindling prey, as well as conflicts with local herders. Their elusive behavior and remote habitats also make it particularly difficult to estimate their numbers. Kyrgyzstan plays a prominent role in international snow leopard conservation efforts. In 2023, the snow leopard was recognized as a national symbol of Kyrgyzstan. The following year, at Bishkek's initiative, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 23 as International Snow Leopard Day. In April 2025, Kyrgyzstan established the Ak Ilbirs ecological corridor in the Issyk-Kul region, covering more than 792,000 hectares. It connects Khan-Tengri Nature Park, the Sarychat-Ertash Nature Reserve, and the Naryn Nature Reserve. Such corridors allow snow leopards to move between mountain habitats, reducing the risk that isolated populations will lose genetic diversity. Kyrgyzstan is also exploring opportunities to develop tourism in areas inhabited by snow leopards. Indian company SUJAN Luxury Hospitality has proposed both wildlife watching and scientific expeditions involving local residents. The proposal, still under discussion, also includes training rangers and developing tourism infrastructure. In 2025, Kyrgyzstan's nature reserves and national parks received more than 271,000 tourists, an increase of 24% from the previous year. Revenue from visits more than doubled to $431,000. However, snow leopards tend to avoid human activity, meaning that tourism development in their habitats will require careful management of routes and visitor numbers.

10 hours ago

Nature protection

New $8 Million Central Asia Conservation Program to Protect Rare Wildlife

Around 100 grants will be made available to local conservation groups under a new five-year program to protect threatened wildlife in the Pamir and Tien Shan mountains. The initiative will cover mountain ecosystems across five Central Asian countries, running from 2026 to 2031. The program has a budget of up to $8 million, with the European Union providing the majority of funding through the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). The British conservation organization Fauna & Flora will coordinate activities in the region, overseeing grants, providing technical assistance, and helping local organizations develop and manage conservation projects. The Pamir and Tien Shan mountains form one of the world's biodiversity hotspots — areas with high concentrations of unique species threatened with extinction. The mountain region covers approximately 860,000 square kilometers across parts of seven countries, including western China and northeastern Afghanistan. The region is home to Menzbier's marmot, the steppe eagle, the Semirechensk salamander, and other rare animals. More than 20 regionally threatened tulip species also grow in these mountains. The main threats to these ecosystems include habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, overgrazing, and climate change. Habitat fragmentation is particularly dangerous for mountain wildlife, as roads, economic activities, and other barriers make it harder for animals to move between populations. The program will fund local conservation projects, with particular emphasis on protecting endangered species and maintaining wildlife corridors. Around 100 grants are planned, with recipients also receiving training and technical support. The aim is to enable local organizations to continue managing conservation projects independently after international funding ends. This is the second phase of CEPF investment in Central Asia's mountain ecosystems. During the previous phase, from 2019 to 2025, the fund allocated approximately $7.4 million to conservation projects. The new program will run for another five years. One of the region's most prominent conservation initiatives focuses on the snow leopard. In April 2025, Kyrgyzstan established the Ak Ilbirs ecological corridor, covering more than 792,000 hectares. It connects Khan-Tengri Nature Park, the Sarychat-Ertash Nature Reserve, and the Naryn Nature Reserve, helping maintain connections between habitats used by rare wildlife. The Times of Central Asia previously reported on the project.

11 hours ago

Economic Growth

Kyrgyzstan Economic Growth: Government Targets 8% Annually

Kyrgyzstan has set a target of average annual real GDP growth of at least 8% and a 20% annual increase in foreign direct investment inflows through the end of 2030. Bishkek aims to achieve these goals by developing export-oriented industries, expanding transport routes, and attracting international capital. While recent international forecasts suggest growth could exceed 8% this year, sustaining that pace through 2030 remains a challenge. The government outlined the priorities at a meeting in Bishkek on October 21. Its plans include expanding production of export goods, modernizing trade and customs procedures, strengthening private property protections, and improving businesses' access to long-term financing. Positive Momentum Set to Continue The targets are set out in the National Development Program through 2030, adopted in June 2025. The program calls for nominal GDP to reach at least $30 billion and GDP per capita to rise to $4,500. International forecasts suggest Kyrgyzstan's economy will maintain strong growth in the near term, although a slowdown is expected. Following 11.1% growth in 2025, the IMF forecasts 9% growth in 2026 and 7% in 2027, while the World Bank projects 9.6% growth this year. However, both institutions have highlighted risks to the country's economic momentum, including a potential slowdown in re-export trade, weaker growth in Russia and China, rising energy prices, and tighter sanctions restrictions. To maintain rapid growth, Bishkek intends to support food processing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, light manufacturing, machinery production, and mineral processing. The goal is to increase exports of domestically produced goods. Infrastructure-led Growth One of the country's largest infrastructure projects remains the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway. Construction began in December 2024, with completion scheduled for 2030. The project is estimated to cost $4.7 billion, including $2.3 billion in loans from Chinese banks. China holds a 51% stake in the joint project company, while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each own 24.5%. The railway is expected to give Kyrgyzstan its first direct rail link to China and provide Uzbekistan with an alternative route to the Chinese market. For Bishkek, it offers an opportunity to generate transit revenue and develop logistics centers. However, the route's commercial viability will depend on freight volumes, tariffs, and the efficiency of border crossings. Another major project is the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant, which Kyrgyzstan is advancing jointly with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Additional electricity generation capacity is needed, among other purposes, to support industrial expansion. On October 14, Kyrgyzstan's ambassador to Switzerland presented both projects to potential investors in Geneva. Bishkek also plans to encourage state-owned companies to issue Eurobonds, expand long-term financing through state banks, and develop the Tamchy special financial and investment zone to attract international capital. Logistics, information technology, tourism, and financial services have been identified as promising sectors. Risks At the same time, Kyrgyzstan's close economic ties with Russia create additional risks for its banking sector and foreign trade. The IMF has warned that exposure to international sanctions and weaknesses in financial oversight could disrupt banking relationships and cross-border trade. A further challenge is ensuring that major infrastructure projects benefit the wider...

1 day ago

Education

Kyrgyz Parliament Backs Foreign Teacher Tax Breaks at First Reading

Kyrgyzstan's parliament has approved a bill at first reading on October 21 that would introduce tax breaks for foreign teachers, exempting eligible educators from income tax and mandatory social security contributions. The measure is intended to attract specialists in engineering, technology, and other subjects where educational institutions face staff shortages. The legislation, introduced in April by 12 lawmakers, was backed by parliamentary committees on October 20. The Times of Central Asia reported on the proposal in May 2026. The proposed changes would also allow foreign teachers to obtain temporary residence permits. Educational institutions would be eligible for exemptions from value-added tax (VAT) on imported educational equipment. One of the bill's sponsors, lawmaker Altynbek Kudaiberdiev, clarified that the exemptions would not apply to all foreign educators. According to him, most foreign teachers currently working in Kyrgyzstan come from Russia and Kazakhstan. He said the aim was to attract specialists from other countries, including native speakers of foreign languages and information technology instructors. Minister of Science, Higher Education, and Innovation Gulzat Isamatova reported shortages of university instructors in fields the government considers priorities for the economy. These include engineering, mining, hydropower, agricultural machinery, medicine, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The minister said tax incentives could help educational institutions recruit specialists from abroad. According to figures presented during the discussion, approximately 700 foreign educators work in Kyrgyzstan. During the debate, some lawmakers questioned the potential loss of tax revenue and whether the exemptions would be fair to local teachers, who would not receive the same benefits. MP Ulan Primov called for clearer eligibility criteria and an assessment of the impact on government revenue. The amendments have not yet taken effect. Schools also face longstanding staffing shortages. According to the Education Ministry, Kyrgyzstan's schools were short of 947 teachers at the end of the 2024–2025 academic year, particularly in mathematics, Russian language, and history.

2 days ago

Foreign Trade

Kyrgyzstan Exports Recover After Sharp Fall in Gold Sales

Kyrgyzstan's exports have begun to recover after a sharp decline in 2025, when the value of its gold exports plunged by nearly three-quarters. In the first eight months of 2026, exports rose by nearly 20%. Even so, for every dollar earned from selling goods overseas, Kyrgyzstan spent more than four dollars on imports. According to a report by the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, exports fell by 41.2% in 2025 to $3 billion. Imports, meanwhile, continued to grow, reaching $13.7 billion. As a result, the country spent $10.6 billion more on foreign goods than it earned from selling its own products abroad. A year earlier, the gap stood at $7.3 billion. The main reason for the decline was a sharp drop in overseas sales of gold, one of Kyrgyzstan's principal sources of export revenue. Their value fell from approximately $2.5 billion in 2024 to $683 million in 2025. Exports of other goods also fell 11.2%. Trade was also affected by weaker demand from Russia and Kazakhstan, two major markets for Kyrgyz producers, as well as temporary restrictions on exports of certain goods, including scrap metal and livestock. Kyrgyzstan's trade is closely tied to neighboring countries. It belongs to the Eurasian Economic Union, alongside Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Armenia. Members trade with one another without standard customs duties on most goods. Russia and Kazakhstan remain the largest buyers of Kyrgyz products and, together with China, supply most imports. The imbalance is particularly pronounced in trade with China. Chinese goods account for more than a third of Kyrgyzstan's total imports, while China receives only around 5% of its exports. Uzbekistan also remains an important market for Kyrgyz products. Outside the region, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are significant destinations. The downturn continued in the first half of 2026, when exports fell another 11.1% compared with the same period a year earlier. By the end of August, however, the picture had changed. Figures for the first eight months showed exports rising 19.5% to $2.3 billion. Gold exports also rebounded sharply, reaching $770.6 million, more than in the whole of 2025. Over half of that amount was exported in August alone. Imports also increased, reaching $9.7 billion. The recovery in overseas sales has therefore not yet significantly narrowed the gap between exports and imports. A trade deficit does not mean Kyrgyzstan is losing the equivalent amount from its government budget. It measures the difference between the value of goods imported into the country and those sold abroad. Imports are paid for by businesses and consumers, with funds coming from various sources, including remittances from migrant workers and investment. Services have become one of the fastest-growing areas of Kyrgyzstan's international trade, providing another source of funds for imports. According to preliminary figures, in 2025 the country earned $3.55 billion from services exports, up 20% from the previous year. Revenue from foreign visitors rose 36.9% to $1.19 billion. In international statistics, this category includes travelers' spending on accommodation, food, shopping, and other services during...

3 days ago

Military

Russia and Kyrgyzstan Sign Military Cooperation Plan for 2027

Russia and Kyrgyzstan signed a military cooperation plan for 2027 on October 15, a day after Russian lawmakers approved measures to simplify arms deliveries to Bishkek. Defense ministers Andrei Belousov and Ruslan Mukambetov signed the agreement in Cholpon-Ata, on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, ahead of a meeting of defense ministers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The plan's contents have not been made public. Russia's Defense Ministry said the two sides discussed military personnel training, military-technical cooperation, and the operation of the joint Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan. Russia's military presence in Kyrgyzstan consists of four facilities, including Kant Air Base, around 20 kilometers from Bishkek, which Russian forces have used since 2003. It is part of the forces of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The other facilities are a Russian Navy communications station in Chaldovar, a seismic monitoring station in Mailuu-Suu, and a naval weapons testing base near Karakol on Lake Issyk-Kul. Belousov inspected the Issyk-Kul facility on October 14. The base tests anti-submarine weapons and systems designed to protect ships and submarines from torpedo attacks. The joint military base operates under bilateral agreements. Its current structure took shape after Russia's military facilities in Kyrgyzstan were brought together under an agreement signed in 2012, which entered into force in 2017. On October 14, Russia's State Duma ratified a protocol simplifying military-technical cooperation with Kyrgyzstan. Signed in November 2025, the protocol allows military equipment to be supplied under contracts between authorized organizations without additional import and export licenses. It also simplifies procedures for spare parts, repairs, and maintenance. The changes could speed up deliveries to the Kyrgyz military, although no new contracts have been announced. In 2025, Russia and Kyrgyzstan signed a strategic military partnership program covering 2026–2030. The two defense ministries have now agreed on their work for the coming year. Kyrgyzstan also maintains military ties with other countries. In February 2026, representatives of U.S. Central Command, the U.S. Air Force, and the Montana National Guard discussed joint training plans for fiscal year 2027 with Kyrgyz military officials.

1 week ago

public transport

Bishkek Metro Plans Resurface Despite High Costs and Low Demand

Bishkek is once again talking about building a metro, despite an assessment by the Kyrgyz capital's own planners that it would attract too few passengers and cost roughly ten times as much as a tram network. Officials have now raised it with French and European development partners. Plans for the new transport systems were discussed on October 9 by Bishkek First Deputy Mayor Kubanychbek Imanaliev, French Ambassador Nicolas Faye, and representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The French side expressed its willingness to help finance a feasibility study. Alexander Baranov, one of the developers of the city's master plan through 2050, said in December 2025 that a tram network would be much quicker to build and better suited to the city's passenger volumes. Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev said on October 2 that the city would consider building a metro if a viable project and investors emerged. Meanwhile, Bishkek is still struggling to provide enough buses. The mayor said on October 12 that the 1,600 buses purchased earlier were insufficient and that the fleet needs to expand to approximately 2,500. Bishkek's master plan through 2050, approved earlier this year, includes tram lines and a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, using dedicated bus lanes and specially equipped stops. This approach can carry more passengers and reduce travel times without requiring underground tunnels. The proposed tram network would connect several districts of the capital. A BRT line could link parts of the city with Manas International Airport. No construction timetable has been established. According to official estimates, the city's road network was originally designed for approximately 50,000 vehicles. Today, around 468,000 vehicles are registered in the capital, while as many as 700,000 use its streets daily when traffic from the suburbs and neighboring regions is included. Nearly 80% of Bishkek's registered cars were more than 15 years old, according to figures published by Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision in 2025. A World Bank study identified transport as one of the city's main pollution sources, accounting for approximately 27% of annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations. Bishkek regularly experiences severe smog, particularly in winter, when vehicle emissions are compounded by pollution from residential heating and other sources. Authorities previously proposed prioritizing public transportation and gradually reducing the use of private cars.

1 week ago

Agricultural Trade

Kyrgyzstan Proposes Apple and Potato Import Ban to Protect Domestic Farmers

Kyrgyzstan is considering temporary bans on apple and potato imports to prevent foreign produce from driving down prices during the domestic harvest season. The proposed apple import ban would remain in place until February 1, 2027, while potato imports would be restricted until March 1. The Ministry of Agriculture expects Kyrgyz farmers to harvest 179,400 metric tons of apples this year. Meanwhile, the country imported 6,400 tons between January and August, more than twice the amount imported during all of 2025. The main suppliers were Poland (3,600 tons), China (1,700 tons), and Uzbekistan (859 tons). Kyrgyz apple exports, by contrast, fell by 13.3% over the same eight-month period to 10,800 tons. The ministry is concerned that rising imports and declining exports could make it harder for local growers to sell their harvest without accepting lower wholesale prices. For potatoes, the government expects domestic production to cover the country's needs. The projected harvest is 1.25 million tons, compared with annual domestic consumption of approximately 800,000 tons. The ministry proposes restricting imports until spring to give farmers time to sell their crops. The proposals raise questions about Kyrgyzstan's obligations within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which guarantees the free movement of goods between member states. According to a published examination of the draft legislation, the apple ban would also cover imports from other EAEU countries, while the potato proposal does not specify whether these would be included. Under Article 29 of the EAEU Treaty, member states can restrict trade in certain circumstances, including to protect public health or national security. In September, Kazakhstan also introduced a ban on apple imports. The ban, which runs until December 31, extends to apples from other EAEU countries and specifically cites Article 29 of the Union's treaty. As recently as March, Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Agriculture said there were no grounds for restricting potato imports from China, citing, among other factors, the country's international trade obligations.

1 week ago

Safety measures

Kyrgyzstan Road Safety Plan Proposed After 900 Traffic Deaths in 2025

Kyrgyzstan recorded 8,456 road accidents in 2025, leaving 900 people dead and 12,169 injured. Compared with the previous year, the number of accidents rose by 18.8%, while fatalities increased by 21.1%. In response, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has drafted a road safety program for 2027–2030 and opened it for public discussion on October 10. It identifies speeding, driving into oncoming traffic, drunk driving, and violations of rules at intersections and pedestrian crossings as major causes of accidents. Speeding alone resulted in 298 deaths last year. The ministry is proposing the installation of barriers, improving street lighting, creating safer pedestrian crossings, and expanding the network of bicycle lanes. Near schools, the plans include reducing speed limits to 30 km/h, additional traffic lights, and building sidewalks. The program also calls for expanding the network of automated traffic enforcement cameras and introducing digital traffic management systems, as well as developing new rules for using drones to detect traffic violations. Police already use drones for this purpose, but the ministry wants to formalize and expand their use. Separate changes would affect electric scooters and mopeds. In Bishkek, scooters frequently share sidewalks with pedestrians. The ministry proposes designating separate lanes or space along the edges of roads for these vehicles and separating their movement from pedestrians. The program also proposes gradually replacing rental electric scooters with bicycles. Kyrgyzstan is also overhauling its driver training system. Authorities have suspended the operations of private driving schools and transferred training to state institutions, while extending the duration of courses from two and a half months to ten months. The restrictions, introduced in January 2026, have been extended until December 31 as part of a trial program. Officials said the decision was intended to eliminate corruption in the issuance of driver's licenses and improve training standards. In its country profile, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated Kyrgyzstan's road traffic mortality rate at 13.3 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, compared with 13.9 in Tajikistan, 12.2 in Kazakhstan, 9.3 in Uzbekistan, and 8.0 in Turkmenistan. In the European Union, meanwhile, the rate was 4.5.

2 weeks ago

public debt

Kyrgyzstan Public Debt Exceeds $10 Billion as Repayment Costs Rise

Kyrgyzstan’s public debt reached $10.16 billion by the end of July 2026, with the government expecting to spend about $1.83 billion servicing its external debt between 2027 and 2029. According to Ministry of Finance figures, external debt stood at $5.19 billion as of July 31, while domestic debt totaled $4.96 billion. External borrowing consists mainly of loans from foreign governments and international financial institutions, while domestic debt is raised primarily through government bonds. Total debt was equivalent to about 38% of the government’s projected gross domestic product (GDP) for 2026. At the end of 2025, the debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 39.5%, up from 36.2% a year earlier. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the ratio to reach 41.4% by the end of 2026. The country’s debt burden is relatively high compared with those of its Central Asian neighbors. IMF figures put Kazakhstan’s public debt at 25.2% of GDP in 2025, while the equivalent figures were 28.6% for Uzbekistan and a projected 24.7% for Tajikistan. For comparison, United States government debt stood at 123.9% of GDP in 2025. China remains Kyrgyzstan’s largest foreign creditor. According to Deputy Finance Minister Umutjan Amanbaev, Bishkek owes Beijing about $1.4 billion, equivalent to 27% of its external debt. Much of the remainder is owed to international development banks and financial institutions. Most external loans were obtained on concessional terms, generally carrying low interest rates and long repayment periods. However, the country has also begun taking on more expensive commercial debt. In May 2025, the government issued its first sovereign Eurobonds, raising $700 million through five-year notes carrying an annual interest rate of 7.75%. The bonds, placed on the London Stock Exchange, now account for about 13.5% of external debt. They are due to mature in 2030, when external debt repayments are projected to reach about $1.1 billion, based on the repayment schedule for existing obligations. The draft budget for 2027–2029, published by the Ministry of Finance, allocates about $606 million to external debt servicing in 2027, $600 million in 2028, and $621 million in 2029. These payments cover principal and interest on existing debt. More than 80% are denominated in U.S. dollars, so a weaker som could increase the budget cost of meeting the same obligations. The government also expects to spend 82.2 billion soms servicing domestic debt. Public debt remains below the government’s benchmark of 70% of GDP. The Ministry of Finance expects debt sustainability to be maintained over the medium term, although exchange-rate fluctuations and economic shocks remain significant risks. The IMF also considers the debt sustainable, while assessing its risk of debt distress as moderate. However, it has warned that growing repayment costs, particularly on domestic and non-concessional borrowing, could place increasing pressure on public finances.

2 weeks ago

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