There are more than 60 domestic franchises in Kyrgyzstan

There are more than 60 domestic brands operating in the Kyrgyz market that are expanding their businesses through franchising. Their geographic reach is gradually expanding and already includes Kazakhstan, Russia, Georgia, the United States, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. This was announced on November 13 by Saikal Asylbekova, chair of the board of the Kyrgyz Franchise Association, at the “Franchise 2026” forum in Bishkek.

According to her, Kyrgyz entrepreneurs are gradually beginning to view franchising as a tool for scaling their businesses and entering international markets.

Among the companies already developing franchises abroad, Asylbekova named Panda Panda, a chain of self-service coffee shops, and the educational project “Academy of Growth,” whose centers have opened in the United States, among other locations. She also mentioned the Japanese company Rolls, which operates in several countries.

At the same time, entrepreneurs are advised to first test the franchise model within Kyrgyzstan. To enter foreign markets, it is necessary to prepare a financial model and a legal package of documents, establish supply chains, and verify the stability of business processes.

“To get started with a franchise, we recommend scaling it within the country—even within a single city—then expanding nationwide, and only then entering the international market,” Asylbekova noted.

According to her, there are currently no precise statistics on the number of franchises in Kyrgyzstan. If all brands operating under the franchise model are taken into account, their number may exceed 100.

The Kyrgyz Franchise Association is engaged in developing the industry, advising entrepreneurs, and preparing documents for the sale of franchises. This year’s forum in Bishkek was held for the fourth time.