OREANDA-NEWS. March 25, 2013. The International Business Council held a kickoff meeting to highlight the results of the analysis of previous national economic development strategies and prior donor-funded efforts in economic development. The Consortium of the USAID Local Development Program presented first results of the analysis towards designing a roadmap for a 20-year national economic development strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic. IBC is the main contractor of the project, responsible for it implementatio

First Vice Prime Minister Joomart Otorbaev in his welcoming speech noted that the Government always hails initiatives of business and civil society, and suggested to discuss the project in wide circle of entrepreneurs from the regions of the country.

Besides him Deputy Director of the USAID Mission to the KR Lawrence Held, Chief of Party, USAID Local Development Program Mark Grubb, and the Chairman of the IBC Board Bektur Aliev delivered opening speeches.

The preparatory stage of the project includes three elements: analysis of previous national economic development strategies, analysis of prior donor-funded efforts in economic development, and best international practices review. As expected it will help to design a roadmap for a 20-year national economic development strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Expert of the Secretariat of the Business Development and Investment Council under the Government of the KR Rafkat Hasanov presented preliminary results of the analysis.

As per his presentation, the quality of documents has increased, although they lacked SWOT-analysis, were too complex and excessively detailed for general public. Some measures were not supported by resources. Since not all suggested measures were implemented, it caused the absence of control mechanisms to ensure reward for accomplishment and punishment for failure to accomplish. All programs lacked root causes of the Government’s failure in many sectors.

Gulnara Uskenbaeva, Chairperson of Suppliers’ Association, delivered presentation on communication challenges between the Government and business.

Representatives of companies, public organizations, the Government and the Parliament attended the open meeting. They actively participated in discussions and gave their suggestions to the developers of a roadmap.

In the framework of the project, press cafes will give opportunity for journalists to gather information from experts on one matter in an informal setting. Publishing one issue of the Investment Now magazine will be used as resource and reference on economic development for main stakeholders.