On May 31, the investment forum was held by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Bishkek.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Zamirbek Askarov, the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic Veronique Hulmann, Head of the Cooperation Section of the European Union Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic Charlotte Adriaen and the EBRD Director for Central Asia Neil McCain delivered welcoming speeches at the event.

IBC Executive Director Askar Sydykov took part in the forum.

At the plenary discussions, the forum participants discussed the cooperation of international and financial institutions in financing and supporting SMEs. Heads of the country's leading banks - Demir Bank, KICB, Bai Tushum Bank Optima Bank told about financing and investments in SME.

After summarizing the discussions, parallel B2B sessions for entrepreneurs with banks and business service providers were held.

To date, the EBRD has invested over US$ 825 million in the economy of the Kyrgyz Republic, with a majority of investments supporting private entrepreneurship.

The forum hosted the ceremony of awarding the best practices in investing SMEs projects, as well as plenary discussions on the cooperation of various institutions to finance and support SMEs.