Ulahol Ayil Aimak won a competition for the best Service Improvement Action Plan conducted in the framework of the Public Service Improvement (PSI) project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by a consortium of organizations composed of Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and the Development Policy Institute. The Service Improvement Action Plan is a systematic method that allows to identify priority public and municipal services as well as to plan and improve their organization and execution.

The cultural center will provide recreation services, such as dancing classes, language courses and other educational activities. It will have a playground for children and a WI-FI zone. 

“From this day on, residents of the villages of Ottuk and Kara-Shaar will receive affordable services of good quality in the field of cultural leisure. All necessary conditions are created in the center to allow for people with disabilities take an active part in the cultural life of the village; before, there was nothing for them in the village at all,” - said Mamatkerimov Akylbek, Head of Ulahol AO. “ ”Previously, young girls and boys did not know what to do in the evenings, some would enjoy playing football, but the rest sat at home; from now on, they have a place where they can meet together, communicate and develop.”

In Ulahol Aiyl Aymak, the project also provides advisory and consultative support regarding the creation of a long-term plan for the provision of additional services in the field of leisure and culture taking into account the local priorities.

“It is crucial to keep in mind that improving service provision is an ongoing process. It is not only about procurement of new equipment or renovation of buildings. It is mostly about good management by local self-governments, ensuring that services are of good quality, can be accessed by all residents and are maintained in a sustainable way” – said René Holenstein, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic.

In total, the PSI project supports the implementation of 35 Service Improvement Action Plans worth over 91 million soms with municipal contributions amounting to almost 28 million soms, corresponding to 30% of the total amount. Among the services to be improved there are nine initiatives to ensure sustainable access to safe drinking water, twelve initiatives to improve the quality and accessibility of preschool and school education, six plans to improve communal and housing services in municipalities etc.

The project implemented by IFC in close collaboration with State agencies and the Ministry of Economy has helped the Kyrgyz government to introduce risk-based inspection system that has reduced the inspections burden: compliance costs for the private sector have been reduced by an estimated $5 million over the past few years. IFC support to investment policy reforms has generated an estimated $14 million additional investment to the economy. The tax system reforms, which was another component of the project has enabled businesses to save $ 2.2 million in 2016 only.

The Program has also ensures the development of relevant legislation as regards food safety, and initiated a number of important reforms to help local food producers to access new markets.  

“The government of the Kyrgyz Republic has been working on improving the business climate and we have positive results. With inspection numbers significantly reduced, the risk level assessments and planning of inspections are now fully automated,” said Daniyar Imanaliev, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic. “However, making the country a better place for businesses is a long-term, continuous process. We thank IFC for its long-standing support and hope to work together on the next reforms.”

“Switzerland, through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), has been supporting since 2008 initiatives that aim to create a favourable business environment. This was done by supporting reforms in the field of tax administration and business regulation. A necessary condition for successful reform process is the involvement of the private sector in the project design and monitoring,” said Véronique Hulmann, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic.

“An attractive investment climate is a prerequisite for an economy that wants to grow and create jobs”, said Martin Naegele, IFC Country Officer. “IFC, together with the World Bank, has been helping the Kyrgyz government resolve legal and policy weaknesses, to improve the operating environment for business and unlock the country’s potential to attract new investment.”

The Swiss Government and WBG/IFC will continue supporting the Kyrgyz Republic to create more favorable business environment, attract and retain foreign direct investment, and unlock new markets for the local businesses. 

About the World Bank Group

The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It comprises five closely associated institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Each institution plays a distinct role in the mission to fight poverty and improve living standards for people in the developing world. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org, www.miga.org, and www.ifc.org. 

About Swiss assistance

The Government of Switzerland provides assistance for the development of the Kyrgyz Republic. The overall objective of its cooperation program is to promote peace and social cohesion as well as responsive and inclusive institutions and a sustainable development to improve the well-being of the population. Over the last 25 years Switzerland has granted more than CHF 360 million to Kyrgyzstan to support the transition process. For more information, please visit https://www.eda.admin.ch/bishkek. 

To learn more about the UK’s Department for International Development, please visit:  https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development.