This is the Regional Conference held on December 17, 2014, in the assembly hall of the Ministry of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic, which organized it. The Ministry was supported by the OSCE project “Improving Conditions for Sustainable Development in the Kyrgyz Republic, with a Focus on the Issyk-Kul and Talas Regions” and projects of the Ecological Movement “BIOM” within the frameworks of the SPARE and “Clean Energy” programs.
According to K. Dzh. Jakypov, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic, the conference is the result of the culmination of a significant and serious effort with regional programs in the framework of the implementation of the National Sustainable Development Strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic for the period until 2017 at national and regional levels. “The novelty of the sustainable development model implies new approaches to formulating development policies for the regions, including promoting income-generating target projects at the local level in connection with social benefits, resource constraints, and measures to minimize the impact on the environment within the defined priorities. The novelty and fundamental difference of these documents from previously developed strategies and programs lie in articulating the development policy for the regions, based on a balanced principle of sustainable development based on three components: economy; social development, and ecology,” said K. Dzh. Jakypov. According to the advisor to the Minister of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic Lyubov Ten, working groups were established to develop sustainable development plans in the regions, discussions were held with the public on development priorities, and these priorities were subsequently agreed upon at meetings of the expert group of the Ministry of Economy with the participation of working groups from the Issyk-Kul and Talas regions and the public. As a result of this work, the following problems were identified: high dependence of the region on imported energy supplies; lack of access to international communications; global and regional climate change; ignorance, and often unawareness of the requirements of the special legal regime of the biosphere territory and special economic zone; lack of some types of local food production; growth of imports outpacing exports; dependence of local employment on the seasonal nature of economic activity; significant internal and external migration. First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic in Naryn Region K. Azizov and Head of Suusamyr Aiyl Okmotu A. Myrzakmatov shared specific results of implementing pilot sustainable development programs. The invited heads of Issyk-Kul and Talas regions presented their regional Sustainable Development Program projects for 2015-2017. Ulan Muradylyov, head of the Issyk-Kul regional department of the Ministry of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic, outlined potential growth points. These include significant natural potential; development of the tourism sector, agricultural and livestock sectors, and the creation of processing enterprises, development of free economic zones, and an increase in investment attractiveness to attract strategic investors to the economy and social sphere. A significant potential for developing the entrepreneurship sector in both regions was noted, along with broad opportunities for training highly qualified specialists based on existing higher educational institutions and secondary vocational schools, considering market needs. The conference highlighted the specialization of sustainable development for specific districts within the regions. According to E. Kekenbaev, Head of the Regional Development Department of the Office of the Permanent Representative of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Issyk-Kul Region, the city of Balykchy should become a transport, logistics, and transit center for the Issyk-Kul region; and the city of Karakol – its cultural and scientific center. The foundation of Karakol’s development should be processing industry and construction materials production. “The entire Issyk-Kul district should become an exemplary center for tourism,” said E. Kekenbaev. First Deputy Head of the Ton District State Administration Timur Alymbekov articulated a strategic vision for the development of the Ton district. This specialization includes breeding a herd of beef and fine-wool sheep, horses, yaks, and berry-fruit crops. Bakytbek Irgebayev, chief specialist of the Office of the Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic in Issyk-Kul Region, shared that the Jeti-Oguz district, primarily its western area, will specialize as a main producer of fruits and berries. The eastern area of the Jeti-Oguz district will specialize in potato and vegetable farming, fine-wool sheep, and dairy cattle, advancing mining sector projects. “Ak-Suu and Tyup districts should become major producers of grains, legumes, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. For this, it is necessary to create a plant breeding laboratory and high-yield milk-producing breeding stock. Implementation of a market specialization model and interregional trade through the launch of target projects or ‘growth points’ for the Issyk-Kul region’s economy is essential.” Special emphasis is placed on advancing mining sector projects and producing building materials in these areas of the Issyk-Kul region, said Bakytbek Irgebayev, chief specialist of the Office of the Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic in Issyk-Kul Region. The First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic in Talas Region B. T. Jumazarov identified the strategic goal of the Sustainable Development Program for Talas Region as creating conditions for the harmonious development of settlements and improving the level and quality of life of the population to the national average by 2017 based on implementing key income-generating projects while ensuring the economic and ecological safety of the region. Jumazarov outlined the priorities for development, including the advancement of crop production with the introduction of organic agro-technologies, addressing soil restoration; ensuring sustainable growth of livestock production with consideration for sustainable use of natural resources, including pasture restoration; and creating favorable conditions for agricultural producers. However, he noted that the development of Talas Region is hampered by corruption within government structures, lack of effective management, and duplication of functions among government and law enforcement agencies that lead to inefficient decision-making; wear and tear of fixed assets in economic sectors and infrastructure, resulting in budget-forming enterprises remaining idle; ineffective economic structure and limited access for small and medium enterprises to cheap credit resources; the region’s remoteness from the country’s administrative and economic center; lack of air and rail communication, and poor condition of national and regional roads. During the conference, potential risks for Talas Region were identified, including a sharp decrease in resources from the national and local budgets and reduced investment attractiveness and competitiveness in certain economic sectors, as well as the contradiction between the simultaneous development of the green economy and the mining industry. Overall, the main indicators for achieving the strategic goal and addressing the socio-economic development tasks for Talas and Issyk-Kul regions until 2017 are outlined as a 3-5% increase in gross regional product, an annual growth of industrial production by 4-5%, and agriculture by 1-3%; increasing the share of small entrepreneurship to 25% by 2017; reducing maternal and child mortality to a minimum; doubling real income for the population compared to the 2010 level; and reducing poverty levels by 10 percentage points; increasing educational coverage in the population. The developing plans are already undergoing synchronization with state plans and building inter-sectoral interaction. According to Vladimir Korotenko, Chairman of the Ecological Movement “BIOM,” thanks to the influence of the SPARE and Clean Energy projects, issues of education for sustainable development have been included in the education content in the Issyk-Kul and Talas regions, organizing professional development for teachers and representatives of regional and district education departments on teaching methods for sustainable development and regional components; increasing energy conservation, energy efficiency, and the use of renewable energy sources. The conference concluded with a presentation of a young Investment Attraction Agency. Its director, Almaz Sazbakov, spoke about promoting investment projects for sustainable development in the regions and local communities.
Text and photo: Irina Bayramukova
