On February 17, 2016, the USAID Business Growth Initiative (BGI) Project, in collaboration with the Union of Kyrgyz Banks and ISR Consult, held a round table for 70 representatives of banks, non-bank financial institutions, leasing companies, government agencies, business associations and international financial institutions, to discuss the results of the Kyrgyz leasing market study conducted during the last half of 2015. The study was conducted to better understand the leasing market and what is restricting its growth.

In a welcoming speech at the round table, Mr. Paul Hamlin, Economic Development Advisor at USAID/Kyrgyz Republic, noted that “this is the first comprehensive study of the leasing market of Kyrgyzstan in many years that covers not only banks and non-bank financial institutions, but also specialized leasing companies. The results of this study enable us and the financial sector to address the priority measures needed for further development of leasing in Kyrgyzstan.”

Anvar Abdraev, President of the Union of Kyrgyz Banks, noted that the union will continue to implement the recommendations proposed in the study and asked interested business associations and international organizations for cooperation in these efforts.