BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 24. Trend presents a review of the key industrial developments in Kyrgyzstan in 2024.
Kyrgyzstan has launched numerous industrial projects in 2024, including the establishment of pharmaceutical and textile factories, enterprises for processing plant extracts and waste, as well as advancements in gold mining and oil refining.
March saw the opening of a pharmaceutical factory in the Bishkek Free Economic Zone, producing ten types of medicines to treat cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and infectious diseases and disorders of the urinary system. The project is expected to improve the accessibility of medications and enhance the country's healthcare system.
The SKY TUNUK factory, specializing in wastewater treatment plants, inaugurated its operations in Bishkek in April. The factory uses advanced Korean technology and focuses on developing solutions for wastewater purification. The product range includes biological treatment units, sewage pumping stations, reinforced concrete structures, grease and oil separators, and modular stations. This project is significant for Kyrgyzstan’s ecology, particularly in regions like Issyk-Kul, where several resorts lack wastewater treatment facilities, leading to water and soil contamination.
In July, the town of Kara-Balta in the Chuy region welcomed the opening of a textile factory. The facility produces knit fabric from polyester and Lycra, with an initial production capacity ranging from 10 to 20 tons per day, with plans to expand to 50–70 tons. Around 85 percent of the finished products are expected to be exported to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The total project cost amounted to $5.7 million, including $2.3 million in private investments and $3.4 million in loans from the Uzbek-Kyrgyz Development Fund.
The Kyrgyz government unveiled 100 new facilities across the country on August 30, 2024, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Region. Among these, 60 are social infrastructure projects such as schools, kindergartens, cultural institutions, and sports complexes, while 40 are industrial enterprises, including small hydroelectric plants, factories, and plants.
Also on August 30, President Sadyr Zhaparov participated in the opening of the Terek-Tash clinker production plant in the Kemin district of the Chuy region. The factory has an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tons of clinker, and the investment in the project totaled $160 million.
In the Naryn region, a new meat processing plant was launched in the village of At-Bashi, which includes a slaughterhouse and meat processing facility.
Additionally, after undergoing major repairs, Kara-Balta's Junda oil refinery, idle for four years, reopened. The refinery is expected to reach full capacity by the end of the year, processing 800,000 tons of raw materials annually, with an estimated $450 million in modernization investments.
Kyrgyzaltyn Company opened a new gold ingot production plant in Kara-Balta, with the facility able to produce up to 14,000 ingots per month, along with souvenir coins, medals, and orders. The project was entirely funded through the company's own resources, amounting to 300 million Kyrgyz soms (about $3.4 million).
Chinese entrepreneurs also launched an oil refinery in the Suzak district of the Jalal-Abad region with an annual processing capacity of 15,000 tons of oil. The refinery produces about 100 tons of bitumen daily for road construction. The total investment in the project was 255 million Kyrgyz soms ($2.9 million).
In the village of Arashan in the Alamudun district, the Bishkek Welding Company LLC opened a new factory for producing sandwich panels, marking the first of its kind in Kyrgyzstan. With a production capacity of over 1 million square meters of panels per year, the factory's investment amounted to $2 million.
A factory for producing paper bags and sacks was opened in the village of Kyzyl-Kyya in the Batken region, with 4.6 million Kyrgyz soms ($52,800) allocated from the state budget for its construction.
In the town of Kayyngdy in the Panfilov district, a factory was opened that will initially produce 300,000 tons of metal products annually. The project is being implemented by the company Metall-Ken with support from the Chinese TAIHAO Fujian International Trade Corporation, and long-term contracts have been signed for deliveries to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries, Uzbekistan, and European nations.
Kyrgyzstan announced the beginning of development at the "Kyzyl-Ompol" titanium magnetite deposit in the Issyk-Kul region on September 25. Titanium magnetite mining has already begun at the Tash-Bulak site, with reserves estimated at 1.6 million tons, making this deposit an important economic asset for the country. Additionally, rare chemical elements like uranium and thorium were discovered in the area, with the development of the deposit made possible after the lifting of the moratorium on the mining of uranium and thorium in Kyrgyzstan.
Moreover, a new agricultural product processing factory was launched by the Bay Elim company, capable of processing up to 500 tons of tomatoes daily in the Chuy region, along with various fruits and vegetables such as apricots, apples, pears, carrots, and zucchinis. The total investment in the project amounted to 410 million Kyrgyz soms ($4.7 million).
Also in September, the Minister of Economy of Kyrgyzstan, Daniyar Amangeldiev, met with the Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan, Sherali Kabir. They discussed potential areas for strengthening industrial cooperation, including metallurgy, light industry, machine engineering, and pharmaceuticals, agreeing to establish a joint working group to further develop these sectors and increase business delegation exchanges.
Plans are also underway for large-scale factories involving international companies. During an official visit to Germany on November 26, President Sadyr Zhaparov signed a memorandum with the National Investment Agency of Kyrgyzstan and NISBAU Anlagentechnik GmbH, which plans to create a major cement plant using innovative technologies to improve construction quality and reduce costs.
Additionally, a memorandum was signed with SBS Holding for the construction of a plant producing components for "smart homes," utilizing advanced technologies to create eco-friendly and energy-efficient homes.
In December 2024, the Chuy region's village of Kirov welcomed the opening of a plant for processing extracts. This facility can process up to 3,000 tons of plant oils per month, with plans to supply both the domestic and international markets.
In the Ysyk-Ata district of the Chui region, the Chopo Tash company launched a factory for the production of sand and gravel. The facility has a capacity of 600 tons per day, with concrete production also planned.
The country's first eco-technological plant for processing solid household waste in Bishkek will also generate electricity. Built on the grounds of the Bishkek Sanitary Landfill, the facility will span an area of 12 hectares. According to Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev, this marks a pioneering project for the nation.
At full capacity, the plant will process 1,000 tons of waste daily and produce 460 megawatts of electricity each day, equating to 180,000 megawatt-hours annually. Future expansion plans aim to triple the plant's waste-processing capacity to 3,000 tons per day.
The construction is progressing as scheduled, with the plant set to be completed by December 2025. The total investment in this innovative project is $95 million.
Additionally, following a government meeting, Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev instructed state agencies to ensure the implementation of at least 100 new industrial projects in Kyrgyzstan in 2025.
In terms of industrial production, Kyrgyzstan’s output from January through November 2024 reached more than 513 billion Kyrgyz soms ($5.9 billion), with a physical volume index of 104.8 percent compared to the same period in 2023.