In addition to examples provided in our statement of Friday, July 25, the list below provides further examples of how U.S. assistance has directly benefited the Government of Kyrgyzstan and the Kyrgyzstani people:
Democracy, Rule of Law and Civil Society:
- U.S. assistance led the creation of the first-ever Russian-Kyrgyz Dictionary of Legislative Terms to improve the quality of legislation prepared by the Jogorku Kenesh
- With the assistance of USAID, the Jogorku Kenesh improved their accountability and accessibility to the public by establishing a Press Center at the Jogorku Kenesh, by publishing Informational Brochure on the Kyrgyz Parliament in Russian, Kyrgyz, and English in regular type and in Braille, and by training accredited and aspiring journalists on reporting on the Jogorku Kenesh’s work to the public.
- The United States has supported over 100 field hearings, policy seminars, and other public events that have fostered communication and feedback between citizens and MPs, as well as 15 constituent outreach offices that have improved Parliamentarians’ ability to represent citizen concerns.
- A USAID partnership with the Ministry of Justice created a computerized qualification examination system for defense lawyers that will help ensure a fair testing process, with the first examination successfully piloted in October 2014.
- U.S. assistance further supported the Supreme Court’s www.sot.kgonline portal, which publicly disseminates judicial decisions and increases transparency.
- USAID partnered with the State Tax Service to rehabilitate Citizen Service Centers in Aravan and Dordoi Bazaars, which issued 800% more patents and nearly 2.5 times more property tax payments when compared with the first quarter of 2014, and have processed 523 more tax declarations than the same quarter of 2014.
- Since 2011, USAID programs ensured that 149 victims of trafficking received urgent medical and social support, and delivered 13,394 consultations through the counter-trafficking hotline (0800 0000 189)
Aviation:
- In partnership with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), USAID drafted and passed a new air code that will allow the CAA to bring air safety procedures in-line with international standards and will pave the way for the Kyrgyz aviation industry to regain the right to fly directly to destinations in the European Union. USAID is now initiating several follow-on legal, regulatory and technical support activities to support these improvements. As a reminder – no Kyrgyz planes are currently permitted to fly directly to destinations in the European Union, a fact that severely limits tourism to Kyrgyzstan, business, and travel opportunities for Kyrgyzstan’s citizens.
Energy:
- With the assistance of USAID, the Ministry of Energy and Industry has drafted amendments to the Law on Electricity. Passed in August 2014, these amendments improve energy-sector regulation and make the sector more attractive to outside investors.
Economy:
- USAID directly supported the Ministry of Economy, helping them to develop a national mining sector strategy. Approved in 2015, the strategy provides a road map for the adoption of international standards in mining policy that will attract investors, protect the environment, and ensure a fair distribution of benefits for the national government, investors, and local populations.
- U.S. initiatives also assisted the Ministry of Economy in drafting a new Law on the Licensing and Permitting System of the Kyrgyz Republic. This law, passed in October 2013, introduced a streamlined system which makes it easier for business to obtain licensees and ensures protection of the public interest.
- Representatives from USAID worked with the State Tax Service to develop amendments to several tax laws. These amendments simplify the value-added tax administration system and provide incentives for VAT registration by legitimate taxpayers while significantly reducing opportunities for fraud. These tax code amendments are currently being considered by the Parliament.
Agriculture:
- Through the Local Development Project, USAID provided assistance to more than 75,000 farmers through extension services, direct training, and land improvement activities. These activities helped farmers increase average annual sales by more than 800 percent, and increased incomes for more than 15,000 agricultural producers in Kyrgyzstan.
- USAID has helped landowners consolidate nearly 800 hectares of land and provide new irrigation to more than 2,505 hectares with 21 kilometers of new irrigation canals and infrastructure.
- In close cooperation with the Kyrgyz Government, USAID executed the $20 million Economic Development Fund (EDF) initiative in three phases over the period of 2011 – 2014. EDF was a special program jointly implemented by the Kyrgyz Agro-Input Enterprise Development (KAED) project and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR) that invested in critical agriculture sub-sectors. The first phase provided improved seed and other inputs to 29,000 farmers across the country. The second phase transformed 14 progressive seed farms into viable companies that will be able to sustainably deliver an improved seed supply to Kyrgyz farmers through seed production and processing equipment. The third phase provided feed production and livestock-handling equipment as well as 450 head of live cattle (including 200 purebreds from the United States) to ten livestock-breeding farms across the country. This livestock development program will transform selected livestock farms into modern breeding centers, greatly contributing to the agricultural economy in Kyrgyzstan.
