Kyrgyzstan’s New Investment Zone at Issyk-Kul Opens First Business Center
The Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory (Tamchy SFIT), a newly established investment zone operating under its own legal framework, is opening its first business center on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. The zone also includes an independent international dispute-resolution center based on English common law. According to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the new facility will house the offices of the Tamchy zone’s management company, which is preparing to begin the territory’s operations. The company will be responsible for registering resident businesses and overseeing licensing, as well as managing infrastructure development within the zone. The 3,850-square-meter business center includes office and co-working spaces, multifunctional conference halls, and meeting rooms. A restaurant and café are also expected to open in the near future. Tamchy SFIT covers approximately 6,000 hectares along the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Companies registered in the zone will be able to operate under English common law, benefit from a zero-tax regime for 49 years, and freely repatriate 100% of their profits. By 2035, the authorities expect the investment territory to host more than 3,900 companies and create more than 10,000 jobs. The zone is intended to attract both domestic and foreign investment, improve Kyrgyzstan’s investment climate, and stimulate growth in key sectors, including manufacturing, tourism, wellness services, and transport infrastructure. “The Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory has emerged at a time when international businesses are actively seeking new points of trust,” said Kyrgyz Justice Minister Ayaz Baetov, who chairs the territory’s Management Council. “The opening of this first business center marks the beginning of the territory’s operational life. We are building financial and logistical bridges between the markets of the CIS, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, and today this bridge has its first address, where active preparations are already underway to welcome the first residents.” Ahead of the opening, the Management Council established the zone’s management company, approved its development strategy, and adopted the first package of regulatory documents governing operations within the territory. At the same time, the selection process is underway for the chairman and judges of the International Center for Dispute Resolution. The center will adjudicate investment-related disputes within the Tamchy zone under English common law, a legal system based on judicial precedent that is widely used in major global financial hubs such as London, Dubai, and Singapore. The dispute-resolution center is being established by Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Justice with support from the British Embassy in Bishkek. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the initiative is part of Kyrgyzstan’s effort to create an English law-based legal framework designed to enhance investor confidence and align the country’s investment environment with international standards.
