The EBRD has signed a project in the irrigation sector of Kyrgyzstan!

The EBRD has signed a project in the irrigation sector of Kyrgyzstan!
At the Central Asia Forum in London in 2022, the EBRD and the Kyrgyz Republic signed a loan agreement to support the modernization of the irrigation system in the Fergana Valley, the country’s main agricultural region. The €17.8 million sovereign loan will be used for construction and rehabilitation of the irrigation system in the Osh region. The funds are planned to be used to modernize water intake structures, main canals, and the distribution network, as well as to reduce water losses, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. The improved irrigation system will contribute to the sustainability of agricultural practices, including climate change, and the creation of new jobs in the southern region of the country, where the majority of the rural population is employed in agriculture. As part of the project, the EBRD will also support the development of training programs for farmers aimed at supporting women’s economic inclusion. The agreements were signed by Zsuzsanna Hargitai, EBRD Managing Director for Central Asia, and Almaz Baketaev, Minister of Finance of Kyrgyzstan.

The EBRD grant from the Shareholder Special Fund is being provided to the Water Resources Service under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic to finance advisory services and technical support for this project.
This project will modernize water intake structures, pumping stations, and main irrigation canals, significantly reducing water losses, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. The new project will also help create new jobs in the Osh region, where the majority of the population is employed in agriculture.

Investments in modernizing irrigation systems are a priority for achieving agricultural goals, environmental and resource conservation, and overall development. “We are pleased to collaborate and work in this direction. I thank the team, colleagues, and partners for their work and support! We have prepared everything for the project’s implementation and hope that this will be another excellent project for the development and prosperity of the Kyrgyz Republic,” the EBRD office commented on the signing of the agreement.

This is important for the Kyrgyz Republic, one of the Central Asian countries particularly vulnerable to the risks associated with climate change. The EBRD’s assistance will help Kyrgyz citizens deliver essential water resources to irrigation sites and provide the Aravan district with irrigation water.

For reference: To date, the EBRD has invested nearly €855 million in 208 projects in the Kyrgyz Republic, with the majority of these investments directed toward the development of private enterprise. Over €60 million has been invested in 24 water projects in the country.