The Association of Cross-Border E-Commerce and Logistics of the Kyrgyz Republic has officially joined the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.

This important development opens new opportunities for the Association to actively participate in shaping the investment and business climate in the country.

As noted by Marcel Salakhunov, President of the Association:
“Joining the Investment Council creates favorable conditions for close cooperation between Association members and the Cabinet of Ministers, particularly through direct engagement with the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers.
It provides a platform to directly convey business proposals to the country’s leadership and relevant ministries, as well as to raise and collaboratively address pressing issues in the field of cross-border e-commerce and logistics.”

During the meeting, participants also discussed joint activities planned for the coming months, aimed at sector development, supporting entrepreneurs, and attracting investment.

The Association will continue working to create a favorable ecosystem for the growth of e-commerce and logistics in Kyrgyzstan — in partnership with the government, the private sector, and international partners.

On April 22, 2025, the final meeting of the nationwide informational and advisory campaign "Business Enlightenment Caravan" took place at the International University of Kyrgyzstan. Over 150 participants—representatives of businesses, government agencies, and expert communities—discussed key systemic challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the capital.

A special focus was placed on tax administration issues. Participants raised concerns about penalties for technical errors in reporting and discrepancies between actual and declared turnover. Representatives of the State Tax Service (STS) emphasized that tax policy is shifting from a "punitive" to a "service-oriented" approach and invited businesses to submit specific proposals for improving procedures.

One of the central topics was the implementation of tax amnesty. It was clarified that debt relief applies only to uncontested liabilities, while court-ordered debts cannot be canceled. Participants also discussed recent relaxations, such as the removal of penalties for the absence of primary documentation for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), seen as a step toward easing burdens on small entrepreneurs.

A lively debate arose over the proposal to introduce a taxpayer rating system. STS representatives confirmed that, under the President’s directive, work has begun on developing such a model. Within this system, compliant taxpayers could gain access to additional benefits—examples discussed included potential tax reductions and preferential financing. This approach aims to incentivize transparent and honest business practices.

Other topics included:

• Business interactions with customs and tax authorities in foreign trade,
• Challenges in transitioning to digital reporting,
• Procedures for writing off goods from virtual warehouses,
• The future of the patent system.

The Bishkek meeting concluded a large-scale initiative that covered all regions of the country. As in previous stages, it facilitated not only information exchange but also direct dialogue—with concrete questions and solution-seeking. All proposals collected during the meetings will be compiled and submitted to relevant authorities for further review and potential implementation.

Parallel to the panel sessions, entrepreneurs could receive individual consultations in the theater's foyer. Consultation zones were organized with representatives from development funds, state banks, and insurance companies.

The campaign is organized by the JIA Business Association and the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, with the support of the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the President in the regions, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration, the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Finance, the Center for Public-Private Partnership under NAIA, the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Land and Water Oversight Service under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, the EBRD, the OSCE Program Office, UNDP, and the Center for Business Support.

On April 18, 2025, as part of a series of follow-up meetings stemming from the national information and consultation campaign "Business Enlightenment Caravan," representatives of the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the JIA Business Association visited the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives (NISI) under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The meeting was attended by Shumkarbek Adilbek uulu, Deputy Director of NISI; Uluk Kydyrbaev, Head of the Secretariat of the Investment Council; and Bakytbek Sartmametov, Chief Legal Officer of the JIA Business Association.

The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss systemic challenges and barriers faced by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and to present practical proposals developed during the Caravan for integration into the state administration’s policy on debureaucratization.

Context: Earlier, a Presidential Decree titled "On Additional Measures to Improve the Efficiency and Debureaucratization of the Public Administration System of the Kyrgyz Republic" led to the creation of an Interagency Commission to monitor its implementation. The decree was signed by the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Mr. Adylbek Kasymaliyev. The newly appointed Director of NISI, who also serves as the Minister of Justice, now holds the status of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Key issues discussed during the meeting included:
– complex procedures for obtaining permits and land for entrepreneurs;
– absence of unified regulations for organizing tourism zones;
– low levels of digitalization;
– obstacles to implementing public-private partnership (PPP) projects at the local level;
– weak legal protection for tenants of municipal property;
– lack of transparency in judicial proceedings;
– insufficient coordination between different levels of government.

Proposed solutions included:
development of a geoinformation platform with integrated digital document management for municipal and tourism governance;
launch of a unified "one-stop-shop" portal for permit procedures;
strengthening legal mechanisms for investor protection;
harmonization of rental policies and tariffs;
establishment of an independent commission for resolving PPP-related disputes;
enhancement of the role of Regional Investment Councils as centers of project expertise and support.

At the conclusion of the meeting, NISI representatives expressed readiness to incorporate the presented proposals into the ongoing preparation of recommendations under the framework of the Presidential decree on debureaucratization. Practical and digital solutions were especially noted as priorities for further reforms.

The dialogue between experts, business representatives, and government institutions continues, serving as a crucial mechanism for removing administrative barriers and fostering a predictable environment for entrepreneurship in the Kyrgyz Republic.

On April 18, 2025, the central office of the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic hosted a meeting to present the outcomes of the nationwide information and consultation campaign “Business Enlightenment Caravan.” The meeting was initiated by the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, led by Uluk Kydyrbaev, and the JIA Business Association, represented by its Chief Legal Officer Bakytbek Sartmametov. From the State Tax Service, Deputy Chairman Kubanychbek Ysabekov and heads of relevant departments participated.

The key objective of the meeting was to summarize the results of the campaign, which has been taking place from March 25 to April 22, 2025, in eight cities across the country. The Caravan reached all regions of the Kyrgyz Republic and gathered over 2,000 participants, including entrepreneurs, government representatives, business associations, and the expert community.

Throughout the Caravan, a wide range of issues concerning entrepreneurs was discussed—from taxation and labor legislation to technical aspects of document management and the implementation of digital tools. Representatives of the State Tax Service were actively involved in all sessions, providing explanations and responding to questions from entrepreneurs.

Questions, concerns, and suggestions from business participants were systematically recorded. Based on this input, a consolidated summary was prepared, containing key proposals for improving tax administration and enforcement practices. This document was officially presented to the State Tax Service during the meeting.

Among the proposals raised were both systemic suggestions and specific examples. One such example included recommendations to revise the territorial restrictions on patents—particularly for services like videography, which require frequent travel across regions. Another proposal was to develop a new method for calculating patent fees by considering both the area of the retail space and the nature of the goods being sold.

During the meeting, the State Tax Service confirmed that over 80% of the received proposals would be taken into account in the agency’s further work. All parties expressed their readiness to continue cooperation in order to improve the efficiency of tax administration and create a more favorable environment for entrepreneurship.

The campaign is organized by the JIA Business Association and the Secretariat of the Investment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, with the support of the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the President in the regions, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration, the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Finance, the Center for Public-Private Partnership under NAIA, the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Land and Water Oversight Service under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, the EBRD, the OSCE Program Office, UNDP, and the Center for Business Support.