BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 4. The Minister of
Finance of Kyrgyzstan, Almaz Baketaev, met with a delegation from
Japan led by Anzai Katsumi, Director of the Credit Guarantee
Corporation of Tochigi Prefecture, to discuss mechanisms for
supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and developing
guarantee systems, Trend reports via the Kyrgyz Ministry of Finance.
The discussion primarily focused on the role of guarantee funds
in enhancing access to financial resources for entrepreneurs.
Malik-Aidar Abakirov, Chairman of the Board of the Guarantee Fund
OJSC, also participated in the meeting, providing insights into the
fund’s operations and its crucial role in supporting local
businesses.
Minister Baketaev emphasized that the development of SMEs
remains a central pillar of the government’s economic policy,
highlighting that Kyrgyzstan has achieved stable economic growth in
recent years, with the Guarantee Fund playing a pivotal role in
this success.
The Japanese delegation shared valuable insights from Japan’s
extensive experience with guarantee systems, where SMEs represent
approximately 90% of all enterprises, with a significant portion
relying on credit backed by guarantee funds.
Anzai Katsumi noted that Kyrgyzstan’s approach to establishing
and developing guarantee mechanisms is of considerable interest to
Japan, underscoring the potential for mutual learning and
cooperation.
The sides expressed a strong commitment to furthering their
collaboration, with an emphasis on intensifying joint efforts to
enhance guarantee systems that support business growth in both
countries.
