Bishkek, Feb. 4, 2026. /Kabar/. Two-day B5+1 Business forum opened in Bishkek, bringing together representatives of the business community and government agencies of Central Asian countries and the United States.
The event aims to demonstrate the key role of the private sector in implementing economic policy reforms and strengthening economic cooperation between the United States and Central Asian countries.
Bishkek forum will review progress in implementing the 21 recommendations presented at the first B5+1 forum in Almaty in 2024 and identify new priorities for advancing regional integration and public-private dialogue.
The priority sectors on the 2026 forum agenda are:
- Agriculture;
- Banking and finance;
- Critical mineral resources;
- E-commerce and information technology;
- Transportation and logistics;
- Tourism.
The forum's program also includes regional business sessions for Central Asian countries, a presentation of private sector recommendations on economic policy, a discussion of government responses and economic priorities, and a review of opportunities for international business and investment.
B5+1 forum is reportedly in line with the outcomes of the recent C5+1 summit, marking its tenth anniversary. Following the summit, the United States and the governments of the five Central Asian countries issued a joint statement recognizing the B5+1 as "an important business counterpart to the C5+1 diplomatic platform." This support underscores the growing role of the private sector in advancing regional economic cooperation and reinforces the significance of the Bishkek Forum.
The forum aims to institutionalize the B5+1 format as a long-term platform complementing the C5+1 framework and promoting sustainable economic reforms, investment, and expanded cooperation between the private sector and the governments of Central Asian countries and the United States.
For reference: The B5+1 Platform is the business counterpart to the C5+1 diplomatic format, which brings together Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the United States. The initiative is being implemented by CIPE as part of the Improving the Business Environment in Central Asia (IBECA) program, supported by the U.S. Department of State. The first B5+1 forum took place on March 14–15, 2024, in Almaty and brought together over 250 stakeholders from Central Asian countries and the United States.