Iskender Sharsheyev

21 November 2025 [19:04] Bishkek is interested in diversifying supplies of petroleum products and in stable routes through Azerbaijan, which is critically important for cargo transit and participation in international logistics chains. Kyrgyz political scientist and economist Iskender Sharsheev said this in the latest episode of AZERTAC’s program “Azerbaijan and the World.” According to him, the countries of the region are closely connected by a common history, language and culture, which makes it easier to deepen cooperation. Speaking about bilateral relations between Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan, he emphasized that the joint development fund is actively supporting large-scale projects, stimulating the growth of entrepreneurship and creating conditions for the implementation of initiatives with multi-million budgets. In his view, the implementation of railway projects in conjunction with China and Uzbekistan will open a direct route to Azerbaijani ports and become a key element of i...

21 November 2025 [18:53] Kyrgyz expert: Azerbaijan will become a link between Central Asia and the South Caucasus Baku, 21 November, Tamilla Mammadova, AZERTAC Azerbaijan’s accession to the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia is of important strategic significance. Kyrgyz political scientist and economist Iskender Sharsheev said this in the latest episode of AZERTAC’s program “Azerbaijan and the World.” According to him, the countries of the region are closely connected by a common history, language and culture, which makes it easier to deepen cooperation. “In the context of changing global geopolitics, growing problems along maritime routes, and increasing demand for land routes, the importance of the revived ‘Silk Road’ is rapidly growing. The emerging transport corridor from China to Europe is once again becoming one of the key directions of global logistics,” the expert noted. Sharsheev also emphasized that Azerbaijan’s role in this process is extremely impo...

20.11.2025 [14:10] На сайте АЗЕРТАДЖ вышел очередной выпуск программы «Азербайджан и мир». Ведущая Тамилла Мамедова обсудила актуальные региональные и международные вопросы с гостем выпуска - кыргызским политологом и экономистом Искендером Шаршеевым. В ходе беседы были затронуты стратегическое значение присоединения Азербайджана к Консультативным встречам глав государств Центральной Азии, перспективы экономического и инфраструктурного сотрудничества, роль Баку в развитии транспортных и логистических коридоров, совместные инвестиционные проекты с Казахстаном, Кыргызстаном и Узбекистаном, а также культурные и гуманитарные инициативы, укрепляющие доверие между странами и способствующие устойчивому региональному партнерству. https://azertag.az/ru/xeber/azerbaidzhan_i_mir_kak_uchastie_nashei_strany_menyaet_region_centralnoi_azii-3872047

Friday, 21 November 2025, 14:21 Product prices remain high Agriculture in Kyrgyzstan does not always generate profit and is often associated with losses. This is how economist Iskender Sharsheev commented to Vesti.kg on the continuing rise in meat prices on the domestic market. “In 2016 I calculated the value chain of products produced in agriculture. And I found that it was loss-making and unprofitable, can you imagine? I travelled around Chui region, Talas region. I visited several regions. I met with people, looked at their calculations and found out that agriculture is far from always profitable. It is a very loss-making business,” he said. Since then, the cost of running farms, keeping livestock, feed and producing goods has only increased. “I have serious questions about how our population even manages to survive. Very often farming is a family business. A grandfather did it, then the father, the brother. All the funds that farmers have are tied up in turnover. The state has...

Starting January 1, 2026, Kazakhstan will introduce a new Tax Code. It will bring numerous changes for businesses, including an increase in the VAT rate from 12% to 16%, higher excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and energy drinks, and much more. Because of this, there is a risk that many small and medium-sized enterprises may either close down or “relocate” to Kyrgyzstan. “Indeed, we have some of the lowest taxes in the Eurasian Economic Union. There are different taxation regimes. For e-commerce, it’s 2% plus social fund contributions. For trade, one can purchase a patent. For other types of activities, it’s 4% for non-cash payments, 6% for cash payments, and 8% when using cash registers,” economist Iskender Sharsheev told Vesti.kg. For this reason, many companies from Russia and other countries have already opened their representative offices in Kyrgyzstan. “The only obstacles sometimes come from local restrictions, which can create barriers to their continued operations. However, it’...

Economist Iskender Sharsheev told **Vesti.kg** that the remarkable success achieved by the countries during the November meeting in Washington was the result not only of the work of political leaders but also of teams of professionals. > “The United States is extremely interested in the market for rare earth minerals, which are abundant in the countries of Central Asia. Moreover, the participants of the *C5+1* summit have long-standing relations. American investments have been present in Kazakhstan for a long time — their total volume amounts to about 100 billion dollars. Uzbekistan will be able to realize its declared plans to attract 100 billion dollars in investments over 20 years. Kyrgyzstan, if it so wishes, can reach trade turnover with the U.S. in the tens of billions of dollars. It is worth adding that the current summit has brought relations to a new level, with a more pragmatic and civilized approach to investment, industrial development, and trade and logistics routes. T...

Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 10:08 The city will become the third of national significance in 2026. Relocating the capital to Jalal-Abad region could have a positive impact on the congestion of the current capital. Bishkek is now overpopulated, which is evident from worsening traffic jams, uncontrolled construction, water supply shortages, and other issues, said economist Iskender Sharsheev in an interview with Vesti.kg. “The city is developing and expanding. The authorities have many projects aimed at attracting investors — some have already been implemented. Bishkek is gradually expanding both westward and eastward. These same resources could be redirected to the Jalal-Abad region for the development of Manas. Organizationally, this is difficult, but if there is political will, it can be done,” he said. The expert believes that transferring part of Bishkek’s functions to Manas would ease the load on the capital. “I think the capital could be relieved. We now see traffic jams, a ...

Monday, September 15, 2025, 18:21 “In the coming years, the number of Kyrgyz citizens working in Russia will decrease to 200,000.” Following the tragedy at Crocus City Hall, Russia has been compelled to strengthen its security measures, including in the sphere of labor migration. This was announced by Sergey Vakunov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Kyrgyzstan, in a broadcast on Birinchi Radio. “The issue of labor migration remains one of the most pressing and is regularly discussed at all levels. We have agreed that it is necessary to approach this matter as carefully and professionally as possible. All the new regulations currently being developed in Russia are aimed at legalizing migration and improving conditions for labor migrants, including citizens of Kyrgyzstan,” Vakunov stated. Economist Iskender Sharsheev, in a conversation with Vesti.kg, noted that for the time being, Kyrgyz citizens continue to regard Russia as their primary dest...

Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 19:00 Those migrant workers who wished to return have already come back to Kyrgyzstan. However, if the country’s economic conditions improve, more could follow. Economist Iskender Sharsheev shared this view with Vesti.kg in response to calls in the Jogorku Kenesh to intensify efforts to encourage migrants to return home. “According to official statistics, unemployment rates are already low. Around 300–400 thousand people have returned to the country. About 300 thousand remain in Russia, according to migration services. Why are they coming back? The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the start of the Russia–Ukraine conflict in 2022 were decisive factors. Some returning migrants reoriented themselves toward Europe and other countries. The domestic labor market has grown, particularly in construction, where specialists are finding jobs. The number of manufacturing enterprises is also increasing. If this trend continues, even more of our citizens will be able to...

“The visit of Tokayev to Kyrgyzstan was marked by a number of important agreements. These included the opening of the Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in our country, as well as economic arrangements in the fields of transport, logistics, and trade. The shared border with Kazakhstan brings to the forefront transit issues in the water and energy sector. Kyrgyzstan is also interested in the fuel and energy opportunities of our neighbor,” noted economist Iskender Sharsheev in an interview with Vesti.kg https://bulak.kg/2025/08/22/prezidenty-pishut-budushhee-itogi-vstrechi-tokaeva-i-zhaparova/

Искендер Шаршеев - политолог, автор и ведущий ютуб канала

Человеческий капитал, считает экономист Искендер Шаршеев, один из самых важных факторов, однако качество людей не менее важно. «Кыргызстан находится на грани демографической стабильности — пока в среднем на одну женщину приходится около 3.5 ребенка. Этого хватает для воспроизводства населения с учетом смертности. Но если тренд на снижение сохранится, в будущем страну тоже может ждать демографический спад», — говорит он, добавив, что у соседей — в Узбекистане рождаемость выше. Чем лучше уровень жизни, тем ниже рождаемость — это закономерно. Люди начинают больше ценить личное время, комфорт, карьеру. В условиях стабильности снижается уровень стресса, а вместе с ним и биологическая потребность в воспроизводстве. Эксперт приводит в пример эксперимент «Вселенная 25», в котором колония мышей, находясь в идеальных условиях, перестала размножаться и вымерла. «Конечно, люди — не мыши. Но суть в том, что отсутствие вызовов и целей делает общество менее активным и мотивированным», — говорит...

Thursday, August 7, 2025, 18:18 Experts warn of possible risks Amendments to the Tax Code of Kyrgyzstan will allow the disclosure of individuals’ banking secrecy without a court order. In particular, this concerns transactions on citizens’ accounts, bank cards, apps, and electronic wallets. All this information will have to be provided by banks to the tax authorities, lawyer Akylbek Jusupov reported on his social media page. The benefits for the Tax Service, for example, in terms of improving tax collection, may turn into risks for ordinary citizens, economist Iskender Sharsheev assessed in an interview with Vesti.kg. “I think in this situation the tax authorities need to develop their position — to decide exactly what they want to do. Otherwise, there could be a wide field for abuse. Citizens might have to account financially for money movements, including cases when they borrow from colleagues until payday, receive pocket money, or transfers from abroad. Questions will also arise...

Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 12:59 "Turkic empires were historically located along the Great Silk Road" Economic ties among Turkic-speaking countries will continue to grow. Economist Iskender Sharsheev shared this view with Vesti.kg while commenting on the news about Georgia being invited to join the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway project and on negotiations between Turkey and Kazakhstan concerning the development of the Middle Corridor and the export of Kazakh hydrocarbons to the global market. “If the Zangezur Corridor is completed, the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway could become the optimal route for transporting goods from East to West. Such opportunities would play a positive role in uniting the economic zone of the Turkic states,” he said. The economist reminded that Kyrgyzstan, like the rest of Central Asia, has historically been at the heart of transportation and logistics routes. “Turkic empires were historically located along the Great Silk Road. These...

Yesterday, on July 28, the National Bank decided to raise the key rate by 0.25 percentage points — from 9% to 9.25%. Although the change seems minor, it could affect people’s daily lives. Let’s break down what this means and what to expect. Why is the rate being raised? The key rate is the interest rate at which the National Bank lends to commercial banks. Increasing it is one of the tools used to combat inflation. At present, annual inflation in Kyrgyzstan stands at 8.7%, while the regulator’s target range is 5–7%. As economist Iskender Sharsheev explains, a higher rate makes loans more expensive, reduces the money supply in the economy, and thus helps curb price growth. However, this decision also has other consequences. “Commercial banks base their calculations on the key rate. If it rises, interest rates on loans may also increase. This is especially true for new loans — for example, mortgages, car loans, or consumer loans. Those who already have loans with a variable rate m...

22 July 2025 Late on July 20th, the President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, touched down in Bishkek as part of a two-day state visit to Kyrgyzstan. It forms part of Khürelsükh’s wider Central Asian tour, with the President set to fly to Dushanbe following his sojourn in the Kyrgyz capital. The trip builds on Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov’s 2023 visit to Ulaanbaatar, where he oversaw the opening of Kyrgyzstan’s first embassy in Mongolia and toured the Genghis Khan Museum in the capital. A warm greeting Khürelsükh was welcomed by Japarov on the red carpet at Manas International Airport, where traditional dances, music, and even a ceremonial eagle were laid on. The pair greeted each other like old friends before the motorcade swept along the empty roads towards the city. Like Japarov, Khürelsükh has been president since 2021, although, unlike his Kyrgyz counterpart, his role is largely ceremonial. Indeed, current Mongolian politics offers a hint of nostalgia to those in ...

Friday, July 18, 2025 | 16:35 Housing is becoming more expensive and less affordable. Real estate prices in Kyrgyzstan are rising, partly due to foreign demand. For this reason, MP Dastan Bekeshev proposed increasing property taxes for foreigners. “Lately, I’ve been receiving more and more appeals from citizens concerned about the active buying of apartments in Kyrgyzstan, especially by Chinese nationals. People fear that at this rate, Kyrgyz citizens themselves will no longer be able to afford housing. We could ban foreigners from buying, but we’d lose investment and damage the economy. Leaving everything as it is will lead to future conflicts. A permit-based system would only bring bureaucracy and corruption. That’s why I propose a sensible compromise — higher property taxes for foreigners. This way, we’ll boost the local budget, cool the overheated housing market, and protect the interests of Kyrgyz citizens,” said Bekeshev. “Similar restrictions are applied worldwide. Ho...

14:00, July 10, 2025, Bishkek – 24.kg, Nargiza TOKOEVA Recently, global gold prices have been rising at an unusually rapid pace, repeatedly hitting record highs. The market has now somewhat stabilized. The surge in demand for the precious metal has been driven by several powerful factors: Aggressive purchases by central banks (especially BRICS countries) aiming to reduce dependence on the US dollar; Global geopolitical and trade tensions (tariff wars, sanctions, and regional conflicts); Weakening of the US dollar. All of these factors have made gold more attractive as a safe-haven asset. According to the London market, the most recent record was set on April 22, 2025, when the price of one troy ounce reached $3,434 on the London exchange. However, Kyrgyzstan recorded its highest local gold price on June 16, 2025. On April 23 — the day global gold prices hit a historical high — the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan set the price at 305,507.5 soms per ounce. But on June 16, the ...

Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 19:02 "There Must Be Rules for Fair Competition" Illegally privatized resorts are returning to state ownership. For example, the "Columbus" resort and a 2.3-hectare plot at Issyk-Kul have been returned. The "Geolog" resort and the "Orlyonok" camp on a 12.81-hectare plot, along with other properties, are also now under state management. Will this legal justice affect the tourism market and the country's investment appeal? Economist Iskender Sharsheev commented to Vesti.kg: "Everything depends on the circumstances accompanying this process. Around the world, restoring order is normal practice. If there are grounds, properties are returned to the state. Some had gained advantages in the past due to contacts or personal connections. This creates an imbalanced system and raises doubts about fair competition. There must be equal market rules. When these rules are followed, trust in the market increases—including...

July 8, 2025 | 18:16 Baku, July 8, Tamilla Mamedova, AZERTAC AZERTAC presents an interview with Kyrgyz expert Iskender Sharsheev, head of the Electric Transport Users Union "ElTrans," founder of Sharsheev & Partners, co-founder of the PEAK Foundation, economist and political scientist. Tamilla: How do you assess the current state of economic relations between Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan? Which areas of cooperation seem most promising to you today? Iskender: The trade and investment dynamics between Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan have shown a noticeable "reset" in recent years. In 2022, the trade turnover was a symbolic $10 million, but by 2023 it had reached approximately $65 million, increasing more than sixfold. Notably, in just January–February 2024, Azerbaijan supplied petroleum products worth nearly $18.2 million to the Kyrgyz market, making Kyrgyzstan one of Baku's top five hydrocarbon export destinations. This growth became possible largely thank...

June 27, 2025, 16:24 The number of international Visa payment system cards is rapidly increasing in Kyrgyzstan. According to the National Bank, in just the first quarter of 2025, the number of Visa cards grew by a record 558,800, reaching 5.93 million. This is a 56.8% increase compared to the same period last year. As a result, Visa’s market share among bank cards rose from 50.6% to 60.4%, making it the undisputed leader among the country’s payment systems. Economist Iskender Sharsheev attributes this growth not only to the development of a cashless economy but also to a decline in trust in the stability of certain banking services. According to him, more and more citizens are obtaining multiple cards — including virtual ones — to ensure access to their finances even in the event of technical failures. "Nowadays, many Kyrgyz citizens are getting two, three, or even up to six Visa cards from different banks. This is a response to frequent disruptions in popular banking ap...

How do Kazakhstan's economic priorities align with the Central Asian agenda? June 26, 2025 · 12:15 Kazakhstan’s strategic location, developed human capital, and firm commitment to reforms create vast opportunities for both investors and the national economy, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the 37th meeting of the Foreign Investors’ Council. What makes Kazakhstan attractive to investors? What real progress has been made in diversifying the economy? And how do Kazakhstan’s economic priorities align with the agenda of other Central Asian countries? Kyrgyz economist and expert in business planning and green economy, Iskender Sharsheev, shared his opinion in this interview. – In the first five months of 2025, Kazakhstan has shown 6% economic growth despite global instability. What factors contribute to such economic resilience, in your view? – Several complementary factors have ensured this stability. First, dynamic growth in manufacturing and the mining sector: total ou...

Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 16:48 Is the GDP growth of the republic truly outpacing all countries in Central Asia and the EAEU? As of June 2025, Kyrgyzstan is showing the highest GDP growth rates among Central Asian and EAEU countries. According to official data, the economy grew by 12.3% in the first five months of the year, and by 11.7% from January to April. These figures far exceed forecasts from the IMF (6.7%), the Asian Development Bank (8.5%), and Trading Economics (5.0%), indicating strong momentum and high potential in Kyrgyzstan's economy, economist Iskender Sharsheev told Vesti.kg. “This growth is driven by both internal and external factors. After sanctions against Russia were introduced in 2022, Kyrgyzstan became a key transit hub for regional trade, especially toward Afghanistan. Fuel export volumes rose from 384,000 litres in 2022 to 40 million litres in 2024, and total exports to that country reached $50 million. Membership in the EAEU also gives an extra bo...

Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 11:59 Fraudsters and unscrupulous developers actively exploit them. Shared-equity construction is widely used in Kyrgyzstan. It promotes the development of the construction sector and enables the construction of residential multi-story buildings even when companies do not have the full amount of financing. On the other hand, there are many cases where construction companies fail to fulfill their obligations, leaving citizens without housing and suffering financial losses. “If we didn’t have a shared-equity construction market, there would be no construction at all in our country. The method was invented in the U.S. and widely developed in South American countries. Shared construction became a lifeline for our citizens,” said economist Iskender Sharsheev in an interview with Vesti.kg. The expert acknowledged that the associated risks are significant. “Some people have saved for an apartment their whole lives. They worked for 30–40 years, saved money, ...

12:00, 29 мая 2025, Бишкек - 24.kg, Артем СУВОРОВ Основатель криптобиржи Binance Чанпэн Чжао предложил использовать биткоин (BTC) и Binance Coin (BNB) в качестве базовых активов для национального крипторезерва Кыргызстана. Об этом он заявил во время недавнего визита в республику. Редакция 24.kg выяснила, на какой стадии находится реализация инициативы и каковы реальные планы государства в данной сфере. И, как оказалось, работа над созданием такого резерва уже идет. Справка 24.kg Крипторезерв (или криптовалютный резерв) — это запасы криптовалют, которые хранятся государством, центральным банком или крупной организацией. По аналогии с традиционными золотовалютными резервами, состоящими из золота, иностранной валюты и других ликвидных активов, крипторезерв представляет собой накопление цифровых активов. Официальное подтверждение: работа кипит На главный вопрос о планах по созданию крипторезерва в управлении государственного долга и активов при Министерстве финансов ответили: ...

The expert reminded that there are many talented people in the republic. Famous actor Timothée Chalamet appeared at a prestigious film festival in Rome wearing a suit by Kyrgyz designer Denis Lee. Economist Iskender Sharsheev told Vesti.kg he is confident that such cases of promoting domestic brands abroad will become more frequent. "As someone with education in economics, political science, and law, I understand that the world is built on documents and words. While our guys worked without papers, they were invisible in the global information field. It was as if they didn’t exist. This situation still exists to a large extent today. But not for those who go global, write scientific articles, have international partners, and participate in information campaigns in Chinese, English, and Hindi," he said. The expert noted that for many abroad, Central Asia is a "blank spot." "People know little about our countries, especially Kyrgyzstan. Later, they learn tha...

Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 16:43 Bishkek’s city government shows how it’s ready to resolve land issues In Bishkek, the mayor’s office has begun demolishing fences and buildings in the residential areas “Kyrgyzstan-1” and “Kyrgyzstan-2” along Chingiz Aitmatov Avenue. Officials claim the owners violated the red line, while local residents argue that the municipality lacks the necessary legal documentation. So what is happening with private property rights in the capital? Economist Iskender Sharsheev explains to Vesti.kg: “As we remember, the president previously returned the draft Land Code without his signature due to significant controversy. He demanded revisions to protect citizens’ rights to private property. The Bishkek mayor’s office also seemed open to negotiations with property owners,” he noted. The expert pointed out that the municipality referred to an outdated city master plan, which allegedly showed that property owners had violated the red line in the area. “However, on ...

Tuesday, April 22, 2025 – 15:34 “Under the old Land Code, you could be granted 4 sotkas for individual housing construction” The Bishkek City Hall wants to ban the allocation of land plots for individual housing construction. This was stated by Deputy Mayor Azamat Kadyrov. “Of course, each municipality decides for itself how much land should be allocated for low-rise and high-rise development,” economist Iskender Sharsheev said in an interview with Vesti.kg. “Under the old Land Code, you could be granted 4 sotkas [approx. 400 m²] for individual housing construction if you didn’t own a home. Some residents waited for years, but it was possible.” The expert agrees—construction companies greatly benefit from building high-rise apartments. “They want to accommodate more people. City Hall talks about vertical growth. Given the housing shortage, this policy is understandable. On the other hand, the lack of urban planners in the country and in municipalities is becoming evident. Dense...

April 18, 2025 – 10:05 Kyrgyzstan has committed to transitioning to a green economy. To support this, special measures are being introduced to assist small and medium-sized enterprises. These primarily include tax incentives and improved access to energy-efficient technologies. Many of these tools have indeed been implemented and have gained popularity in the country. However, experts point out that most people use these incentives simply because it’s financially beneficial — not necessarily because they care about environmental issues. Few reflect on the fact that the true goal of these measures is environmental protection. This is one area where the government should increase awareness. Additionally, many citizens are unaware of the full range of incentives available. They might have used them — if someone had told them what benefits were on offer. Unison Group conducted a special study on the barriers and incentives for adopting green solutions in Kyrgyzstan. The company’s Busi...