Sadyr Japarov urges EU investment in Kyrgyz hydropower, rare metals

Speaking before leaders from Central Asia and the European Union, President Japarov reaffirmed Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to strengthening mutually beneficial ties with its closest neighbors and external partners. “Deepening cooperation with neighboring countries remains a top priority of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy,” he stated, highlighting that close collaboration among Central Asian states plays a pivotal role in maintaining security and sustainable development in the region.

Japarov underlined recent breakthroughs in regional diplomacy, including the formal resolution of long-standing border disputes. “In 2022, we signed a historic agreement with Uzbekistan to formalize our state border. Now, the Kyrgyz-Tajik border has also been completely resolved,” he noted. He recalled the recent visit of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to Bishkek, during which the treaty on the state border was signed and subsequently ratified by Kyrgyzstan’s parliament on March 25.

“These landmark agreements were warmly welcomed by the peoples of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and by the international community as a symbol of growing mutual trust and peaceful coexistence,” he added.

As a continuation of this regional momentum, President Japarov mentioned the trilateral summit held on March 31 with the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, where the three leaders signed an agreement on the exact point of intersection of their state borders.

Turning to cooperation with the European Union, President Japarov praised the upward trajectory of trade relations. “Over the past four years, Kyrgyzstan’s trade turnover with the EU has increased by 2.4 times, driven by rising imports and exports,” he said. He credited this success to market openness and the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) initiative, which grants Kyrgyz products preferential access to 27 EU markets.

Japarov also invited European businesses to explore investment opportunities in Kyrgyzstan, highlighting the country’s strategic location and growing role as a regional transit hub.

A major focus of his speech was Kyrgyzstan’s energy potential. The President urged European partners to participate in large-scale hydropower and renewable energy projects, particularly the flagship Kambar-Ata-1 Hydropower Plant. “We have already launched the construction of this major 1,860 MW facility, in partnership with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan,” he said.

In 2023 alone, Kyrgyzstan commissioned 18 small hydropower plants and plans to build 15 more this year. Additionally, solar energy projects totaling more than 400 MW in capacity are underway. “Given the realities of global climate change, transitioning to a green economy and renewable energy is our only path toward sustainable development,” he stressed.

President Japarov welcomed the EU’s €10 billion commitment to sustainable transport connectivity in Central Asia. He also proposed deeper cooperation in the field of critical raw materials, noting Kyrgyzstan’s substantial reserves of rare and precious metals.

“To strengthen this cooperation, we propose establishing a dedicated partnership or roadmap similar to the agreements already made between the EU and other regional countries,” he suggested.

In closing, President Japarov expressed Kyrgyzstan’s readiness to deepen its cooperation with the European Union across all strategic areas. He voiced confidence that the summit would result in tangible agreements that would advance Central Asia–EU relations.