World Bank prepares new project on development of regions of Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek, March 12, 2019. / Kabar /. Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov received Lily Burunchuk, the World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia.

At the meeting the sides discussed the cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the World Bank within the framework of the partnership program for 2019-2022.

President Jeenbekov expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to discuss the plans and strategy of the partnership of Kyrgyzstan with the World Bank for the near future and thanked for their active support in the development of the country.

“For our country, the support of the World Bank in the implementation of strategic goals and upcoming reforms is very important,” he said.

Jeenbekov noted with satisfaction that in the World Bank’s Partnership Program with the Kyrgyz Republic until 2022, the regional development issues are identified as priority areas for development in Kyrgyzstan.

The World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia noted that the WB’s new partnership strategy with Kyrgyzstan was prepared taking into account the main development priorities of Kyrgyzstan, which were embedded in the strategic documents of the country, where regional and territorial development is included as a priority.

“As part of the new partnership strategy, the World Bank is preparing a new project on the development of the regions of Kyrgyzstan. A regional analysis was conducted to determine the basic indicators of the regions. At the first stage, we intend to focus on the development of Osh and Batken regions of the republic. The project is aimed at solving a complex of tasks, in particular, it will be aimed at solving issues of improving the quality of public services, digitalization, and improvement of water supply, roads and infrastructure. At the second stage, the project will cover the other regions of the country,” she said.

Jeenbekov and Burunchuk also discussed the issues of reforming the public procurement system, developing and improving regional infrastructure, introducing digital technologies into the life of the state, providing clean drinking water to the population, improving the country's financial sector, and energy development.