On September 29, Bishkek hosted a roundtable titled “Employer as a Key Partner of the Vocational Education and Employment System,” organized by the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic together with the Ministry of Education and development partners. The discussion brought together representatives of government agencies, business associations, educational institutions, international organizations, and the Secretariat of the Business Development and Investments Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Current Situation
Around 27.9 thousand students are currently enrolled in vocational lyceums, with more than 12 thousand specialists graduating each year. The most in-demand fields are automotive and repair (21.6%), garment and textile production (18.4%), construction, services, and tourism. At the same time, the sector faces a number of challenges: lack of professional competencies, limited job opportunities in the regions, and restricted access to educational programs.

Uluk Kydyrbaev, Head of the Secretariat of the Council for Business and Investment Development under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasized:
“Today, dozens of investment projects are being launched across different sectors in our country. But the question arises: do we have enough qualified specialists to implement and maintain them? In some cases, we are already forced to bring in workers from abroad. That is why it is critical to prepare experts with these projects in mind, so that domestic specialists can become the foundation of their successful implementation.”

During the roundtable, the Secretariat presented a set of initiatives, including:

• The use of the kesip.edu.gov.kg platform for certification and wage forecasting and development of online courses
• involvement of employers and practitioners in training processes;
• inventory of regional investment projects to anticipate future demand for skilled workers;
• programs to expand access to education, including support for students in remote areas.

Participants agreed that only close cooperation between business, government, and educational institutions can improve the quality of vocational training and provide young people with decent employment opportunities.

Karatai Dzhangeldiev, Head of the Department for Project Attraction and Preparation at the PPP Center under the National Investment Agency of the Kyrgyz Republic, shared that local authorities in the regions are increasingly focusing on public-private partnership (PPP) projects, and the number of such initiatives is growing every year. According to him, it is precisely through partnership mechanisms that intentions can be transformed into real solutions, project discipline can be established, and extra-budgetary resources can be mobilized into the economy.

What is PPP and why is it important?
Public-private partnership is a long-term collaboration between the state and business in creating or modernizing facilities and services, where the private partner undertakes design, construction, financing, and/or operation, while the state provides rights, obligations, and transparent performance-based payment rules. For the regions, PPP is a practical tool: it helps close infrastructure gaps (social facilities, utilities, transport infrastructure, energy), improve service quality, and distribute risks. Each project is unique: the model (concession, service, etc.), timeframe, KPIs, remuneration, and guarantees are set out in the contract and tailored to the specific objectives.

Regional Investment Councils (RICs) play a key role in promoting PPPs: they serve as the platform where local initiatives are discussed directly with government and investors, concrete projects are shaped, and solutions are developed to accelerate their implementation on the ground.

The Regional Investment Councils (RICs) operate under the Offices of the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the regions. The work of the RIC Secretariats is supported within the framework of a tripartite agreement between the Secretariat of the Business and Investment Development Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic, and the PPP Center under the National Investment Agency.

Uluk Kydyrbaev, Head of the Secretariat of the Business Development and Investments Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, shared his views on the significance of the Regional Investment Council (link to the interview).

He emphasized that the RIC is not just an advisory body, but a living platform for dialogue. Here, entrepreneurs can openly voice their problems, government agencies provide responses, decisions are recorded in protocols, and their implementation is monitored by the Secretariat. This mechanism ensures genuine partnership between business and the state, helps to remove barriers, and creates a “roadmap” for regional development.

At the meeting in Jalal-Abad, new projects were presented in the fields of green energy, agricultural processing, tourism, and infrastructure. The main goal of the Council is to unite the efforts of government, the business community, and partners to create favorable conditions for investment, generate new jobs, and promote sustainable regional development.

In the near future, meetings of the Regional Investment Councils will also be held in other regions of the country.

The work of the Regional Investment Councils (RICs) is carried out under the Offices of the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the regions. The activities of the RIC Secretariats are supported within the framework of a tripartite agreement between the Secretariat of the Business and Investment Development Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic, and the PPP Center under the National Investment Agency.

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At the expanded meeting of the Regional Investment Council in Jalal-Abad, information was presented on the socio-economic development prospects and new investment opportunities of the districts of the region.

Toktogul district emphasized the development of green energy. More than 490 hectares of land have been transferred to the Green Energy Fund for the construction of small hydropower plants (HPPs) and solar power stations. In the village of Uch-Terek, a 5 MW small HPP is under construction with an investment of over 5 million US dollars. In addition, the district is actively developing fish farming based on the Toktogul reservoir.

In Bazar-Korgon, construction has begun on a 4.6 MW small HPP, and more than 2,600 hectares of land have been allocated for solar power plants. The district is renowned for its walnut forests, and the local authorities highlighted the potential for branding, packaging, and exporting walnut kernels and products.

Suzak district presented projects in renewable energy and tourism. In the Kok-Art area, land has been prepared for the construction of small HPPs and the installation of solar panels. Particular attention is being paid to domestic tourism — on the highland plateau of Ak-Tash, a modern glamping complex is planned, which will attract tourists and increase the income of the local population.

Nooken district, one of the largest agricultural centers of the region, demonstrated significant potential in cotton and onion processing. The district traditionally remains a leader in the production of these crops, with the key task being to attract investors to establish processing enterprises and logistics centers.

Toguz-Toro district presented large-scale infrastructure projects, including the construction of the Kazarman HPP cascade with a total capacity of 1,160 MW, as well as the development of major transport corridors — the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway and the alternative North–South highway. These projects aim to transform the district into a strategic regional hub.

In Ala-Buka, the focus is on green energy and processing industries. Together with international investors, projects are underway to construct solar power plants with a capacity of 200 MW. In addition, plans are being discussed for a plant producing apple and potato puree. The district also underlined the significance of cultural and historical tourism based on the “Shah-Fazl” complex.

The presentations demonstrated that each district of Jalal-Abad region possesses unique resources and opportunities — from renewable energy and agricultural processing to tourism and logistics. The implementation of the proposed projects will enhance the region’s investment attractiveness, create new jobs, and expand its export potential.