Eduard Kubatov, President of the Kyrgyz Mountaineering Federation, spoke to the Kabar News Agency about why Kyrgyzstan is increasingly perceived as a country of trust and sustainable development, the role of political stability, and the implementation of a pragmatic, multi-vector foreign policy.
What factors have contributed to increased international trust in Kyrgyzstan?
—The key factors that determine the international community's attitude toward Kyrgyzstan today are trust and respect. Above all, the international community has seen that the presidential form of government, methods, and system of governance under President Sadyr Zhaparov are effective and inspire public confidence.
This primarily concerns confidence in the political system and public administration. Such trust is reinforced by the country’s economic performance. Kyrgyzstan is currently among the world’s top five countries in terms of economic growth rates, exceeding 11 percent.
These results foster respect for both the governing team and the head of state personally. As a result, trust and respect have become the key factors shaping the international community’s perception of Kyrgyzstan today.
Another fundamentally important issue is the situation in Central Asia. For nearly 30 years, the region has been labeled a potential source of instability due to unresolved border issues, the proximity of Afghanistan, and complex political processes that could lead to conflicts between countries in the region, including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
Thanks to the responsible decisions of the president and his team, the most complex border issues were resolved. Problems that had remained unresolved for decades were finally settled. Corresponding agreements were signed with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. As someone with a military background, I can say that the border issue is a matter of war or peace. We have chosen the only correct solution. Today, Central Asia is a region of peace, prosperity, friendship, and joint development.
In summary, three key factors can be identified:
first, an effective political system supported by the people;
second, a dynamically developing economy;
third, the resolution of complex political and foreign policy issues in the Central Asian region. It is the combination of these factors that has enabled Kyrgyzstan to take a stable and respected position in the international community.
What is the nature of foreign policy under President Sadyr Zhaparov, given its pragmatic, multi-vector course?
— I believe the defining feature of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy is realism. It is free from declarative or unrealistic positions; all decisions are based on an objective assessment of the current situation and the country’s actual capabilities.
First and foremost, Kyrgyzstan has focused on building good-neighborly and effective relations with its closest neighbors — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and the countries of Central Asia as a whole. Without stable and constructive relations within its own region, it is impossible to speak of an effective foreign policy.
This approach reflects the pragmatic course pursued under President Sadyr Zhaparov, where regional stability and mutual trust are viewed as the foundation for broader international cooperation.
The second important point is Kyrgyzstan's geopolitical location. We are located in the center of Eurasia, between two major political and economic centers of power—China and Russia. Balanced and pragmatic political and economic relations have been established with these countries, which is already yielding concrete results in investment, economic, and strategic cooperation.
At the same time, a new chapter has opened in relations with Western Europe and the United States. The Central Asia-US Summit and a personal meeting with US President Donald Trump demonstrated the great potential for cooperation between the United States and the Central Asian region.
The Middle East and Arab countries deserve special attention. Kyrgyzstan has effectively restored previously lost ties with the Islamic and Arab worlds, and today these relations are developing very actively and promisingly.
Furthermore, Kyrgyzstan is building systemic relations with the African continent for the first time, opening embassies in Addis Ababa and Egypt. These are strong, pragmatic, and far-sighted foreign policy steps.
Relations with Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea are also steadily developing, already yielding concrete results.
How important is political stability for attracting foreign investment?
— Political stability is the key factor. Today, the volume of foreign direct investment in Kyrgyzstan has exceeded $1.2 billion, which is the first such result in the country’s history. This figure refers specifically to direct investment, not donor assistance or infrastructure financing.
This indicator shows that the international community has begun to trust the Kyrgyz economy. The country has established sustainable state and legal mechanisms aimed at protecting and supporting investors, creating a more predictable and reliable investment environment.
The presidential form of government played a significant role here. Under the presidential-parliamentary system, there were too many decision-making and responsibility centers, which complicated the implementation of large investment projects and gave rise to political corruption.
Today, there is a single decision-making center—the president and his team. The National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic was created, which oversees major projects. In the near future, the portfolio of such projects could exceed $6-7 billion. Centralized yet responsible support for investors significantly increases trust. The international community believes results, not words. Kyrgyzstan's economy has demonstrated impressive growth in recent years, and the country is among the most dynamic economies in the world. This inspires confidence not only among private investors but also among international financial institutions.
Political stability, an effective governance system, and tangible economic results have laid the foundation for increased investment and high international trust in Kyrgyzstan.