Good Neighbors starts integrated rural development project in southern Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek, April 1, 2022 / Kabar /. On March 30 Good Neighbors International held a kick-off ceremony for the ‘Integrated Rural Development Project in the Kyrgyz Republic’ at the Classic Hotel, in Osh city.

Together with representative of villages and local governments, Nurdin Alisherov, the first deputy minister of Ministry of Agriculture, Yoo Jisung, the first secretary of embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Kyrgyz Republic, Yi Jongsu, country director of KOICA Kyrgyz, Chun Hongsoo, country director of Good Neighbors International in the Kyrgyz Republic, and many other partners attended to celebrate the launching of the project.

On last January, Good Neighbors International (GNI), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the “Integrated Rural Development project in the Kyrgyz Republic” that aims to help national and local governments improve rural development policy in the Southern Region (Osh and Batken Oblast). The MoU was signed by Dzhanybekov Askarbek Saparbekovich , Minister of Agriculture, Yi Jongsu, Country Director of the KOICA Office in the Kyrgyz Republic, and Chun Hongsoo, Director of the Good Neighbors International in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Under this partnership, GNI, KOICA, MoA and local governments will work together by 2025 with a budget of 8.8millions dollars in the improvement of basic rural infrastructure, promotion of agricultural technology and value chain, and the improvement of the national policy on rural development.

This partnership will specially bolster collaboration on the agribusiness development, Kyrgyz government priorities that includes enhancing the quality and efficiency of agricultural production, improving the distribution and sales system of agricultural and livestock products, developing the cooperative association, creating the value chain in the food industry, and the development of digitalized extension system. Additionally, the project will support women’s empowerment by building multipurpose centers where child care and kitchen garden program will be operating.

Good Neighbors International (GNI) is an international NGO that has been providing humanitarian aid and development services to communities in 35 countries. Since 2014, Good Neighbors has been implementing various Community Development Projects in Kyrgyz Republic.