OSCE and partners support business forum to attract investment to southern Kyrgyzstan
A one-day OSCE-backed Business Forum “Osh – 2015” was held in the provincial capital Osh at the initiative of the Kyrgyz government’s representative in the region and support of country’s Investment Promotion Agency.
Some 200 representatives of the central and local government, business associations gathered for the event. Business representatives from Russia, Kazakhstan, China, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and other countries also took part.
“Economic development is key to stability,” says Kristin Höltge, Senior Field Representative of the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek adding that this is particularly important in the south of Kyrgyzstan, where many families have someone working as a labour migrant abroad and unemployment among young people is widespread. She said that investment into the local economy will help create job opportunities.
Forum participants learned about investment opportunities in the south and conducted discussions covering various areas including agriculture and food processing, mining, construction and tourism.
In addition to the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and its bureau in Osh, the event was also supported by UNDP, the German Agency for International Co-operation as well as the Swiss Association for International Cooperation, Helvetas .