Support for women’s entrepreneurship is one of the key priorities of state economic policy in Kyrgyzstan, Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce Benazir Nurlanova said at the Women’s Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization held in Bishkek.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan, small and medium-sized businesses currently account for 51.7 percent of the country’s GDP.
There are more than 823,000 business entities operating in the country, of which over 246,000 are headed by women.
This means that every third business entity in Kyrgyzstan is led by a woman, reflecting the growing role of women in the national economy.
The ministry also noted that the government is continuously improving conditions for doing business. The concept of «women’s entrepreneurship» has been legally defined, state support programs are being implemented, access to financing is expanding, and a large-scale reform of the permitting system is underway under the «regulatory guillotine» principle aimed at reducing administrative barriers and improving the business environment.
Special attention is being paid to improving women’s access to financial resources.
Today, women receive more than 50 percent of entrepreneurial loans provided to individuals for business development.
In addition, more than 80 percent of guarantees provided by the Guarantee Fund OJSC of Kyrgyzstan go to women entrepreneurs implementing projects in the regions.
Benazir Nurlanova emphasized that expanding women’s economic opportunities is essential for sustainable economic growth, improving competitiveness, and strengthening human capital. She added that further cooperation among SCO member states could create new opportunities for women entrepreneurs and implementation of joint initiatives.
