ADB's Work in the Kyrgyz Republic

The Kyrgyz Republic joined ADB in 1994. In recent years, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic has maintained a strong development agenda to reduce poverty through inclusive economic growth.

The government and ADB worked together to strengthen the health sector, promote social protection, reform legal and regulatory frameworks, improve the country’s business environment, provide access to affordable finance, improve the reliability of electricity services, enhance transport connectivity and urban mobility, and help Kyrgyz citizens become more employable.

To date, ADB has committed 196 public sector loans, grants, and technical assistance totaling $2.4 billion to the Kyrgyz Republic. Cumulative loan and grant disbursements to the Kyrgyz Republic amount to $1.57 billion. These were financed by regular and concessional ordinary capital resources, and the Asian Development Fund. ADB’s ongoing sovereign portfolio in the Kyrgyz Republic includes 14 loans and 18 grants worth $758.7 million.

In 2021, ADB allocated $35 million financing package to reduce landslide risk in the Kyrgyz Republic. It is ADB’s first integrated preemptive landslide risk management project, which will deploy advanced technologies, nature-based solutions, and community-based planning and capacity building for sustainable landslide safety.

To further support earlier efforts to diversify the economy, ADB provided an $80 million policy-based loan that aims to enhance trade and investment competitiveness, develop small and medium-sized enterprises, improve infrastructure through public–private partnerships, build industry-based skills, and strengthen fiscal management and social protection resilience

A $50.65 million loan was committed for the urban transport electrification project in Bishkek, the country’s capital. The loan will support the procurement of 120 modern, battery-electric buses, upgrade the infrastructure of two trolleybus depots, and introduce electric chargers. It will also establish a 3.5-kilometer green mobility pilot corridor to increase bus speed and improve service reliability of public transport. The project is expected to enhance the city’s transport infrastructure, improve air quality, cut carbon emissions, and reduce traffic congestion.

Overlooking view of Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic's capital and largest city. Photo: ADB

Nonsovereign operations. Total outstanding balances and undisbursed commitments of ADB’s nonsovereign transactions in the Kyrgyz Republic as of 31 December 2021 was $0.85 million representing 0.01% of ADB’s total private sector portfolio.

Operational challenges. Government decision-making and private sector investment in the Kyrgyz Republic are impeded by risks from political instability, regional disparities, and weak public finance and administration. To seize the opportunities and address these risks, ADB is providing technical assistance to enhance policymaking and strengthen the government’s capacity for managing development projects.

COVID-19 Response

ADB committed a $25 million loan to support the country’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination program under the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility. The project finances the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, assists in its associated logistics, and builds the capacity of the government. It will also support the implementation of the national vaccination deployment plan.

Knowledge Work

ADB’s body of knowledge work in the Kyrgyz Republic seeks to address issues on the economic downturn and crises management, and also focuses on landslide risk management and energy efficiency. ADB promotes collaboration with key stakeholders and provides support particularly in energy, transport, and social protection reforms.

ADB helps improve the sustainability of the Road Asset Management System through innovative approaches such as the creation of a web-based maintenance planning tool—using existing data through a web-based geographic information system platform. ADB also contributed to the review of wastewater treatment regulations. It helped update effluent standards for treating urban wastewater that will enable more people’s access to sanitation.

ADB also supported the enhancement of the government’s e-procurement platform using the latest application in information technology, including block-chain.

  ADB Projects in the Kyrgyz Republic Project data sheets for loans, grants, TAs

Future Directions

The ADB country partnership strategy (CPS) for the Kyrgyz Republic (2018–2022) is in its last year of implementation. The formulation of the new CPS covering 2023–2027 has started and is scheduled for approval by ADB Board in 2023.

The bank’s indicative pipeline of projects for 2022–2024 will continue to support public sector management and private sector development, the rehabilitation of regional transport corridors and a major hydropower plant, maintenance of roads, and reforms to further improve the transport sector. ADB will also help boost the availability and quality of a skilled workforce and the employability of the population through support to the education sector. Assistance will be further provided to the water supply and municipal infrastructure and services sector, as well as health care to help mitigate the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.