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With UNECE support Kyrgyzstan emerges as one of the most advanced PPP markets in Central Asia

With UNECE support Kyrgyzstan emerges as one of the most advanced PPP markets in Central Asia

Bishkek Kyrgyzstan

With 80 Public Private Partnerships (PPP) projects in its pipeline, more than 50 signed agreements, and a solid and balanced legal and regulatory framework, Kyrgyzstan is rapidly emerging as one of the most advanced PPP markets in Central Asia. Transport, energy, education and healthcare are among the key sectors where PPP investment is centred, with over USD 300 million invested in 2024 alone.  

The creation of the Kyrgyz PPP Center in 2019 and the new PPP law in 2021 represented watershed moments in the PPP development of Kyrgyzstan, which can now boost a varied pipeline of projects with large-scale national infrastructure projects and smaller scale high-impact community projects. The latter play a crucial contribution to achieving the SDGs. Most of the projects being developed in Kyrgyzstan are small-scale, with lower risk profiles and greater efficiency gains, that can potentially reduce public sector risk and exposure. 

These remarkable achievements were highlighted by the First Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Akylbek Kasymaliev, in his opening remarks at the recent Third International PPP Conference held in Bishkek. Mr. Kasymaliev also expressed his appreciation to UNECE for its support in implementing reforms in Kyrgyzstan since 2012, when the first PPP law was enacted. 

International partner of the year 

In recognition for its support in the past 15 years, the Kyrgyz PPP Center presented UNECE with the distinctive award of “International Partner of the Year.” During the award ceremony in Bishkek, the Director of the Kyrgyz PPP Center, Mr. Nurbek Anarbekin, highlighted the support provided by UNECE, in particular, in the use of the UNECE’s flagship PIERS methodology to ensure that projects in Kyrgyzstan were fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provided value for people and value for the planet.  

UNECE standards and guidelines on PPPs for SDGs 

On the second day of the conference, UNECE presented its broader work on PPPs for the SDGs, and shared insights with public officials and PPP practitioners on how UNECE standards and guidelines on PPPs for the SDGs can help Kyrgyzstan and other countries in Central Asia achieve the SDGs.  

In addition to the PIERS methodology, UNECE presented an overview of its existing tools aimed at improving the PPP legal and regulatory frameworks in alignment with the SDGs, lowering corruption risks in PPP procurement, promoting the circular economy in infrastructure, and enhancing the delivery of projects in several key sectors, such as renewable energy and transport.  

UNECE also introduced several new guidelines aimed at enhancing the delivery and sustainability of PPPs. These include the “Guidelines on improving PPP delivery through digital transformation”, optimizing the project lifecycle with digital tools; the “Guidelines on PPPs in digital infrastructure”, emphasizing essential services like telemedicine in the digital transformation; the “Guidelines on green and sustainable PPP procurement”, ensuring environmental and social criteria are an integral part of the PPP procurement process; and the “Guidelines on the state of PPP and infrastructure finance midway to 2030”, offering key insights on financing trends to support the SDGs. Together, these guidelines will provide governments with crucial recommendations to improve the impact and sustainability of their infrastructure projects. These guidelines were published in October 2024 and are submitted for decision to the Working Party on PPPs at its eighth session on 25-26 November 2024

UNECE will continue to support Kyrgyzstan and other member States in implementing the PIERS methodology and its several standards, guides and tools to promote sustainable infrastructure through PPPs in support of the SDGs. 

Countries: Kyrgyzstan