OSCE Centre in Bishkek

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek, with the help of its Field Office in Osh, carries out a number of economic projects that reflect Kyrgyzstan's economic development needs, as outlined in the country's development strategy.

These projects focus on the improvement of legislation, increasing the capacity of women and young people to run small businesses, creating income generation in economically depressed areas through the development of eco-tourism and tourism support industries, providing labour migrants with safe employment, and promoting corporate responsibility amongst established businesses, and training municipal and provincial employees on investment attraction and management.

Support for entrepreneurs

Tailored training sessions on entrepreneurship help vulnerable groups to improve their relations with the official authorities, increase their knowledge of official legislation, improve their understanding of the tax system and why their contribution is important, and raise their awareness about micro-credit opportunities.

Development of the tourism industry

Kyrgyzstan's picturesque landscape means that tourism is a small but vital economic sector that provides income generation for a number of rural communities. The Centre has developed projects that aim to boost the role of tourism in the Kyrgyz economy through increasing young people's knowledge of the tourism industry, improving the visa regime for tourists and expanding community-based tourism locations. Projects include organizing tourist guide training for young people, helping to provide job opportunities in regional rural tourism.

Labour Migration Centre

The Centre in Bishkek intends to promote official employment opportunities for external and internal migrants through its support for the Bishkek Labour Migration Centre, as well as the opening of the counselling outlet of Osh City Migration Committee. The Bishkek Labour Migration Centre works with foreign employers to find safe employment opportunities for Kyrgyz citizens who wish to work abroad, while the Osh City Migration Committee seeks to find jobs in the region for the unemployed.

Tackling corruption and money laundering

Two important government agencies were recently established in the Kyrgyz Republic: the Financial Intelligence Service and the National Agency on the Prevention of Corruption. The OSCE is working to build the capacity of both agencies in order to better combat corruption and stop money laundering and terrorist financing.