Kyrgyzstan Investment Forum Outlines New Blueprint for Economic Growth, Targeting 10.2% GDP Growth in 2025

“Investment remains a key driver of sustained economic growth,” emphasized Adilbek Kasimmariev, Prime Minister and Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, at the opening ceremony of the “Investment Direction: Country and Business” investment forum held on December 15, 2025.

This high-level forum, held at the Presidential Residence of the Kyrgyz Republic, brought together government representatives, business leaders, banking professionals, and international partners to discuss Kyrgyzstan’s investment prospects and progress in economic reforms.

Kasimmariev revealed to participants that the country’s GDP has nearly tripled in the last five years, with a 10.2% growth rate in the first 11 months of 2025. This figure significantly exceeds the 8% annual growth target set in the country’s National Development Plan until 2030.

01 Five Years of Economic Achievements: Remarkable Reform Results

Data released at the forum shows that Kyrgyzstan has achieved remarkable economic growth over the past five years. Kasimarev pointed out that the domestic reforms have begun to show results.

The quality and speed of economic growth are reflected in several aspects. From 2021 to 2024, the average size of foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by more than 140% compared to the period from 1995 to 2020, and the scale of FDI continues to expand annually.

The continued inflow of foreign investment confirms international investors' confidence in Kyrgyzstan's economic development prospects. According to data from the Kyrgyz National Statistical Committee, in 2023, China's direct investment in Kyrgyzstan reached US$281 million, accounting for 33.2% of the country's total FDI, making China Kyrgyzstan's largest source of FDI.

Regarding infrastructure construction, Kasimarev mentioned that more than 100 social facilities and over 100 industrial enterprises have been newly built domestically. These facilities have laid a solid foundation for sustained economic development.

02 Investment Environment Improvement: Modernization of the Legal Framework

The forum focused on Kyrgyzstan's efforts to improve its investment environment. The Investment Law and the Law on Public-Private Partnerships, both enacted in 2025, meet international standards and aim to ensure capital security.

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce points out that the national development plan until 2030 explicitly identifies industrialization, transportation and logistics, agriculture and tourism, and green energy as strategic development directions.

The tax environment has also improved. Among Kyrgyzstan's major taxes, the standard corporate income tax rate is 10%, the standard value-added tax rate is 12%, and the standard personal income tax rate is 10%.

Furthermore, Kyrgyzstan supports free exchange of its currency with the US dollar without any formalities or quotas. Foreign-invested enterprises and businesses in Kyrgyzstan can freely remit profits to Kyrgyzstan or third countries through banks.

03 Key Investment Areas: Diversified Development Opportunities

The forum identified key investment sectors including microelectronics, energy, logistics, agriculture, mining, information technology, industry, tourism, and pharmaceuticals. These sectors are highly aligned with Kyrgyzstan's resource endowment and development needs.

Energy Sector

Kyrgyzstan possesses abundant hydropower resources, with a potential hydropower capacity estimated at 145 billion kilowatt-hours, but currently only about 10% is utilized. Future development potential is enormous, especially in the green energy sector.

Mineral Resource Development

More than 2,000 mineral deposits of various types have been discovered throughout Kyrgyzstan, with proven reserves of key minerals including gold, tungsten, tin, mercury, antimony, and iron. These resources provide investment opportunities for mining and related industries.

Agriculture and Tourism

Agriculture is Kyrgyzstan's leading industry, accounting for 10% of GDP and 20.2% of the total workforce. The country's favorable climate and geological conditions provide advantages for agricultural development. Tourism also has development potential due to its natural scenery.

04 Administrative Innovation: Enhancing Investment Facilitation

Kasimalev specifically introduced administrative improvement measures, including the application of technology in the tax sector and the simplification of border customs system barriers. These measures have significantly improved investment facilitation.

To further optimize investment services, the government has decided to elevate the status of the National Investment Agency under the President of Kyrgyzstan. This agency will centralize authority to streamline investor processes, improve transparency, and expedite decision-making.

At the forum, the head of the National Investment Agency, Lavshan Sabirov, stated that the development of public-private partnership (PPP) mechanisms has significantly helped the country improve its ranking in international ratings. Currently, the PPP project portfolio covers more than 90 initiatives with a total value exceeding 434 billion soms.

05 Free Economic Zones: A New Engine for Investment Growth

The forum paid particular attention to the development of free economic zones. In the past three years, free economic zones have attracted more than 5 billion soms in investment and generated more than 10 billion soms in tax revenue and other budgetary revenue.

Currently, hundreds of enterprises operate within the free economic zones, including production units focused on exports and import substitution. The zones offer tax exemptions for transshipped goods, and enterprises within the zones are also exempt from value-added tax on imported equipment, which significantly reduces operating costs for businesses.

The successful development of free economic zones in Kyrgyzstan demonstrates the effectiveness of its special economic zone policy, providing investors with favorable conditions for reduced operating costs and increased returns on investment.

06 Regional Economic Integration: A Bridge Connecting Eurasia

As a core node of the Belt and Road Initiative, Kyrgyzstan's locational advantages and resource potential are being rapidly unleashed. The country joined the Eurasian Economic Union in 2015, and regional economic cooperation is becoming increasingly close.

Currently, as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, Kyrgyzstan has signed free trade agreements with countries such as Vietnam, Singapore, Serbia, and Iran. This provides investors with access to larger regional markets.

In 2024, bilateral trade between China and Kyrgyzstan reached US$22.71 billion, a year-on-year increase of 15%. China is Kyrgyzstan's largest trading partner and largest source of imports. Close economic and trade cooperation between the two countries provides convenient conditions for investors.

In the context of deepening economic and political integration, Kyrgyzstan recognizes that no country can achieve sustainable success relying solely on its own resources, and therefore actively engages in mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

Forum participants unanimously agreed that this meeting was an important step in building a systematic dialogue between the state and enterprises. The meeting planned to adopt a resolution to clarify the future direction of cooperation in jointly improving Kyrgyzstan's investment environment.

With the newly adopted laws and regulations coming into effect and the enhanced status of the National Investment Agency, Kyrgyzstan is demonstrating its determination to attract foreign investment through concrete actions.