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City
Profile
Once
a caravan rest stop on one of the branches
of the Silk Road, Bishkek is home to a robust,
active manufacturing community which is
eager for reform, growth, and new opportunities.
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Country
Rankings
Kyrgyz Republic
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| Ease
of Doing Business World Bank '05 |
84
of 155
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Med*
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Corruption
Perception
Transparency International '05 |
130
of 159
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Low
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Growth
Competitiveness
World Economic Forum '05 |
116
of 117
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Low
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| National
Literacy |
97%
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High
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GDP
Growth
(2004 est.) |
6%
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Med
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With
the recent upsurge in Central Asian economic cooperation
this community stands to benefit if the proper
steps are taken to ensure transparency and efficiency
in business-government interactions as well as
security for international business operations.
After
the recent appointment of the city's new mayor,
Arstanbek Nogoev, a meeting was held with over
150 local entrepreneurs. The meeting was dominated
by the complaints of local business men and women
who cited heavy tax burdens and bureaucratic obstacles
as well as corrupt government officials as impediments
in the way of growth and expansion. The Mayor
has assured the business community that the necessary
changes will be made.
Foreign
investment is feared to be leaving due to a prevailing
lack of financial or personal guarantees in the
country. In the past Bishkek has received almost
50% of FDI inflows. Japanese and other foreign
investors, as well as the World Bank, have supported
infrastructure developments in Bishkek including
the airport, public transport, and telecommunications.
Despite
this Russian investment is continually sought
and poised for an upsurge in the capital and its
environs. A recent visit to Moscow by the Kyrgyz
Prime Minister Felix Kulov focused on increasing
cooperation between the two countries.
US
AID currently sponsors the Business and Economics
Education project for the purpose of eliminating
the gap between the needs of Businesses and the
level of Higher Education in Kyrgyz Republic.
The first meeting was held in Bishkek recently.
Source:
Population:
2004 or latest: http://www.citypopulation.de;
GDP Data: 2004 CIA Fact Book estimate; Literacy:
UN estimate
*
Country Ranking Codes: A relative color coding
of where the country falls compared to the 20
other Muslim countries represented in this list.
Hgh/Green=Top 3rd; Med/Yellow=Mid 3rd; Low/Orange=Bottom
rd
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