A major reform of the Kyrgyz Republic’s licensing ,Today, May 13, in Bishkek at the International University of Kyrgyzstan, Bakyt Sydykov, Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, prese,A major reform of the Kyrgyz Republic’s licensing system aims to drastically reduce bureaucratic burdens on businesses. Minister Bakyt Sydykov met with the Swiss Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan.,

Today, May 13, in Bishkek at the International University of Kyrgyzstan, Bakyt Sydykov, Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, presented the initial results of the reform of the licensing system being implemented as part of the “Regulatory Guillotine” initiative.

The working meeting was attended by Ayaz Baetov, Minister of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic; Hugh Riddell, Country Director of the World Bank Group in the Kyrgyz Republic; and representatives of government agencies and the business community.

As Bakyt Sydykov noted, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, in conjunction with the Interdepartmental Commission, is implementing a large-scale reform of the licensing system as part of the “Regulatory Guillotine” initiative. The reform has become one of the key stages in modernizing state regulation and creating a favorable business environment.

According to the minister, as a result of a comprehensive review, the system of licensing documents has been radically simplified, streamlined, and brought in line with a modern regulatory model based on the principles of transparency, efficiency, and a risk-based approach.

As part of the reform, a comprehensive review was conducted of 905 permits, including licenses, authorizations, certificates, registrations, and other administrative procedures. The effort involved 74 government and non-governmental agencies, representatives of the business community, as well as experts from the World Bank and the IFC.

The analysis found that a significant portion of the existing requirements were no longer relevant and created unnecessary barriers and redundant procedures. As a result:

410 permits were eliminated;

the number of permitting procedures was reduced by 45.3%;

170 documents were consolidated to eliminate duplication;

a new streamlined system consisting of 495 well-founded and manageable documents was established.

The reform has facilitated the transition from an outdated model of total control to a modern regulatory system focused on real risks, supporting entrepreneurship, and improving the efficiency of public administration.

For businesses, this means a reduction in administrative and financial costs, fewer bureaucratic procedures, less interaction with government agencies, and the creation of a more predictable business environment.

For the government, the reform was an important step toward improving the quality of governance, eliminating ineffective control mechanisms, and implementing modern digital solutions.

Decree No. 144 of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic dated April 16, 2026, approved a comprehensive list of 439 permits. Documents not included in the list are no longer considered permits and can no longer be required by government agencies.

In addition, a separate package of 199 documents subject to further optimization has been approved, including the reduction of processing times, simplification of procedures, reduction of the list of required documents, and the phased digitization of processes.

The implementation of this reform reaffirms the Kyrgyz Republic’s commitment to building a modern, transparent, and competitive economy focused on supporting business, attracting investment, and ensuring sustainable economic development.

EGOV.KG

EGOV.KG