A meeting of the Kyrgyz-British Business Council held in London

On February 25, 2026, the fourth meeting of the Kyrgyz-British Business Council (KBBC) took place in London. The event was timed to coincide with the Central Asia-UK (C5+1) Foreign Ministers' Summit. The Kyrgyz side was represented at the meeting by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Jeenbek Kulubaev, Chairman of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic Melis Turgunbaev, Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce Meder Tumanov, and Deputy Minister of Finance Umutjan Amanbaev. The British side was represented by the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, member of the House of Lords of the British Parliament, Lord John Alderdice, and the Managing Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Central Asia and Mongolia, Hüseyin Özhan. The meeting was moderated by Askar Sydykov, co-chair of the Kyrgyz-British Business Council and executive director of the International Business Council. As part of the meeting program, presentations were delivered by representatives of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), United Concrete Canvas, Valor Carbon, Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. and Eldik Bank OJSC, Kyrgyzstan. The event was also attended by representatives of leading global banking companies – Citibank, Societe Generale; consulting companies – Alvarez & Marsal, EY (London); the West London Chamber of Commerce; Eurasia Critical Minerals; Better Earth Limited; and AI Capital. Representatives of Kyrgyz and British businesses in finance, construction, insurance, consulting, education, agriculture, and logistics also participated. The meeting was attended by about 60 representatives of government agencies, businesses, and international organizations, confirming the growing interest of British businesses in the Central Asian region and, in particular, the Kyrgyz Republic. During the meeting, successful cases of British investment in Kyrgyzstan were presented, including the joint production project of building materials by Concrete Canvas and projects of Valor Carbon. Particular attention is paid to cooperation in the field of critical minerals, the development of the financial market, the expansion of banking cooperation, and the use of London's capabilities as one of the world's leading financial centers for attracting capital and entering international markets. Co-chair of the KBBC, Askar Sydykov, noted the positive results of the Council's activities in expanding trade and economic relations between Kyrgyzstan and the United Kingdom, as well as in attracting investment into the Kyrgyz economy. Joint projects are currently being implemented in Kyrgyzstan in the areas of industrial production, education, employment, financial services, and other areas of mutual interest. Following the meeting, the parties agreed to continue dialogue at all levels, intensify business contacts, and facilitate the launch of new joint investment and business projects. The first KBBC meeting took place on November 28, 2023 at the EBRD headquarters in London, the second and third meetings were held in Bishkek on April 25 and October 3, 2024. The International Business Council will continue to assist in strengthening business ties and developing mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between the business communities of Kyrgyzstan, the United Kingdom, and other countries.