An entrepreneur from the Batken Region is being prevented from starting work on a deposit, despite having completed all the legal procedures

An entrepreneur from the village of Ak-Turpak in the Batken region has stated that he is unable to begin developing a sand and gravel deposit, despite having obtained a licence and won legal proceedings. He raised this issue at a meeting with President Sadyr Zhaparov.

According to the entrepreneur, Abdilat Isakov, geological exploration work was carried out on the site between 2014 and 2018. In 2019, he was granted a licence to extract sand and gravel. However, as the businessman claims, he has still not been able to start work due to protracted disputes and the need to reapply for permits.

“I have won four cases in the Supreme Court. I have all the rulings to hand. But whenever I’m about to start work, I’m told once again that the permits have expired and I need to undergo the expert assessments all over again,” said the entrepreneur.

He stated that he does not simply want to extract and sell raw materials, but to organise their processing and the production of building materials, including sand blocks. According to him, the enterprise could provide employment for 40–50 families.

Zhaparov instructed the relevant authorities to look into the situation and stated that licences for the deposits should be granted to entrepreneurs who are prepared to set up production facilities.

“If you simply take state resources and sell them without producing anything, we will revoke your licence. If you build a factory or organise the production of building materials — then go ahead,” said the President.

He also proposed assessing an entrepreneur’s performance over a period of one to two years and, in the absence of the promised production, reviewing the licence.

The question of exactly which permits an entrepreneur currently requires and which Supreme Court rulings have been handed down regarding the dispute requires further verification of the relevant documents.