Published
12/19/2025, 17:31Today, December 19, the Ministry of Finance hosted a forum dedicated to the results of the Emergency Support for Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Businesses project, implemented with the support of the World Bank. The key result of the program was the preservation of more than 21,000 jobs across the country.
Deputy Minister of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic Nurbek Akzholov noted that support for the SME sector remains one of the priorities of state policy, since it is small and medium-sized businesses that provide employment for the population and ensure the stability of regional economies.
The project, with a total cost of $150 million, covered about 20,000 entrepreneurs, who received financial support in excess of 12 billion KGS. Thanks to these measures, enterprises were able to retain staff, continue operations, and avoid mass layoffs during a difficult period.
Separately, forum participants highlighted the effectiveness of the interest-free lending mechanism, which became one of the key tools for preserving jobs and stabilizing businesses. Representatives of business associations and banks noted that this form of support allowed entrepreneurs to focus on recovery and development rather than debt servicing.
The project was completed a year and a half ahead of schedule and became the first program of the World Bank's local office in Kyrgyzstan to receive a “highly satisfactory” rating.
The Ministry of Finance reported that new programs focused on the long-term development of SMEs and agri-food clusters are planned to be launched in 2026.
