KfB celebrates five years in the gender equality initiative: What has changed?

In honour of International Women's Day, more than 116 stock exchanges around the world, including the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange (KASE), held their annual Ring the Bell for Gender Equality. The initiative, now celebrating its 11th year, aims to highlight the role of the private sector in women's economic empowerment and building an inclusive economy.

This year's event in Kyrgyzstan was held in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and UN Women. It was dedicated to important historical events: 100 years of the women's movement in Kyrgyzstan, the 50th anniversary of International Women's Day and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform, a global programme to achieve gender equality.

The Ring the Bell for Gender Equality initiative is a symbolic ceremony in which stock exchanges around the world ring the bell to open trading. The ritual is designed to remind the importance of gender equality in the economy and business. The initiative aims to draw attention to the need for women's empowerment, participation in company management and access to finance.

The year 2025 was a milestone year for the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange: it celebrated the 5th anniversary of joining the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (UN SSE). This is a global programme that helps exchanges implement the principles of sustainable development, including gender equality.

KSE uses this platform to promote an inclusive economy where women have equal opportunities for investment, entrepreneurship and leadership. The event included the presentation of awards to leaders who have made significant contributions to the advancement of gender equality in the country.

‘We are proud that our exchange has been part of the global initiative for 5 years now. This is an important step towards creating sustainable mechanisms that help women realise their economic potential. We see a growing interest on the part of financial institutions to support women's entrepreneurship,’ said Aida Chodulova, Acting President of the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange.

Dmitry Pyatachenko, Head of IFC's office in the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasised:

‘Women's economic activity is the key to sustainable development. Removing barriers for women in business and management not only strengthens the economy, but also increases investor confidence’.

Antje Grave, UN Resident Coordinator in the Kyrgyz Republic, added that gender equality is not only a human rights issue, but also a strategic priority for business. Companies with gender-balanced leadership show better financial results.

By investing in women, we are investing in the future. It is not only about creating a level playing field, but also about opening up new opportunities for economic growth and innovation,’ concluded Sadik Sayed, UN Women Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Ring the Bell for Gender Equality initiative continues to bring together businesses, government agencies, international organisations and civil society to share experiences and find new solutions. In Kyrgyzstan, this event was an important step towards creating an inclusive economy where women can realise their full potential.