On July 1, 2024, the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic hosted an advisory meeting to address issues raised by the Association of Telecom Operators of the Kyrgyz Republic. The primary topics discussed were removing fiber optic cables and increasing rental rates for poles owned by municipal enterprises "Bishkeksvet" and "Bishkek Trolleybus Department."

Members of the Association of Telecom Operators expressed concern over the significant and multiple increases in rental rates for using the poles of "Bishkeksvet" and the "Bishkek Trolleybus Department." The rental cost reportedly increased from KGS 37-50 to KGS 200 pole per month. The Association noted that this increase would inevitably lead to higher operating costs for telecom operators, which could, in turn, result in higher service fees for consumers.

The meeting also addressed issues related to removing fiber optic cables, which could cause service interruptions and increased costs for operators.

Participants of the Meeting:

• Vice-Mayor of Bishkek - Azamat Kadyrbekov
• Chief of Staff of the Bishkek City Hall - Kanat Sagynbayev
• Deputy Director of the Department of Municipal Property Management of the Bishkek City Hall - Aliya Koichukeeva
• Executive Director of the Association of Telecom Operators - Salavat Ormoshev
• Representatives of the Association of Telecom Operators - Ulan Dootaliev and Eldar Davletov
• Representatives of member companies of the Association of Telecom Operators:
• Director of Network Construction at Aknet LLC - M.S. Sultanaliyev
• Deputy Director of Operations at Megaline LLC - E.A. Makhmudov
• Head of Technical Accounting Service at Megaline LLC - D.A. Karalkov
• General Director of Saima Telecom JSC - B.Zh. Kasymbekov
• Technical Director of Saima Telecom JSC - T.V. Borisov
• Lawyer at Saima Telecom JSC - V.S. Denisov

During the meeting, a constructive dialogue was held, discussing potential solutions and ways to optimize pole rental tariffs. As a result of the discussions, it was decided to create an advisory group consisting of representatives from the Association of Telecom Operators, the Bishkek City Hall, and other relevant bodies, with five members from each side. Additionally, the Bishkek City Hall committed to providing a semi-annual work plan for cable line removal. The parties also agreed on the need to resolve the issues raised as quickly as possible.

The Investment Council Secretariat expressed its readiness to assist in resolving the issues. We thank all participants for their active involvement and fruitful discussion. We hope that these joint efforts will help find an optimal solution.

On June 28, another session in the series on economic journalism took place, focusing on "Agribusiness and Food Security in the Kyrgyz Republic." The event was attended by Daniyar Januzakov, Head of the Department for Implementation of Decisions on Food Security at the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, Rustam Baltabaev, Executive Director of the Association for the Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Kyrgyz Republic, and media representatives.

During the meeting, participants discussed the current challenges of agribusiness, ways to overcome them, government programs and support measures for the agricultural sector, innovative technologies and approaches in agriculture, and the role of cooperatives and small businesses in ensuring food security.

Daniyar Januzakov emphasized that, in order to ensure food security, work is being carried out on the development of agricultural clusters. He also pointed out the need to improve educational programs and enhance the qualifications of specialists in the field of agriculture.

Rustam Baltabaev shared the initiative to grant "Special Status" to domestic enterprises, which will receive government support upon fulfilling certain obligations. According to him, this will stimulate the development of the agro-industrial complex and increase its competitiveness.

Guests noted that cooperatives and small businesses play a key role in ensuring food security, offering flexible and innovative solutions to improve the efficiency of production and distribution of agricultural products.

During the discussion, successful examples of the implementation of innovative technologies in agriculture were also considered, such as process automation, the use of drones for field monitoring, and the application of advanced soil treatment methods. Participants noted that such technologies can significantly increase yields and product quality.

We thank all participants for their active participation and valuable discussion. We hope that today's meeting helped to further reveal the topic of food security, its benefits for agricultural enterprises and small businesses, and its importance for the sustainable development of the country.

On June 27, an international investment forum of Turkic States, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, took place on the shores of Issyk-Kul. The forum brought together representatives from six member countries: Kyrgyz Republic, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, as well as observer countries: Hungary, Northern Cyprus, and representatives from European chambers.

During the plenary session of the forum, Uluk Kydyrbaev, Head of the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, delivered a presentation. In his speech, he highlighted the potential for joint growth and cooperation among Turkic States, emphasizing dynamic markets and the importance of economic partnerships. He also underscored strategic investment opportunities in the Kyrgyz Republic, presenting potential investment areas, including hydropower and green energy, tourism, agriculture, information technology, and more.

The forum also saw the participation of the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Edil Baisalov, ambassadors accredited in the Kyrgyz Republic, and businessmen from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Hungary, Northern Cyprus, and representatives from European chambers.

Key topics of the forum included:

• Investment potential of the Kyrgyz Republic
• Export of products within member and observer countries of the OTS
• Promotion of environmentally friendly products
• Development of green energy
• Prospects for the IT industry
• Transformation of the banking sector in the context of modern challenges

The forum concluded with the signing of documents and outlined plans for future cooperation, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts for the development of the region's economy.

On June 25, 2024, a kickoff seminar for the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Project "Strengthening Kyrgyzstan's Capacity to Manage Climate Finance and Develop Quality Projects" was held. The event was organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Climate Finance Center, and GIZ.

Uluk Kydyrbaev, Head of the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, participated in the seminar. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of private sector involvement in planning and implementing climate investments. Kydyrbaev highlighted key aspects of business engagement in climate projects and their significance for the sustainable development of the country's economy.

The main topics of the seminar included presenting the project's goals and activities, coordinating between national partners and international organizations, and discussing ways to improve access to climate finance. Participants addressed current issues and proposed strategies for further collaboration.

Thanks to the active participation and constructive proposals from all attendees, further steps were outlined to implement climate projects in the Kyrgyz Republic successfully.