New step towards a circular economy: the EDB supports a programme to develop the secondary raw material market
25 October 2025, Bishkek.
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund (RKDF) and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic signed a tripartite agreement at the Fourth International Conference on Public-Private Partnerships. The document marks the launch of a programme to develop the secondary raw material market.
The initiative, supported by the EDB Technical Assistance Fund (TAF), and aims to establish a modern waste management system and promote green economy principles in the country. The EDB and the RKDF will provide technical assistance to the ministry free of charge by financing the work of the lead expert organisation preparing the programme. The programme will include a list of pilot projects, mechanisms to optimise logistics and measures to encourage businesses to actively use secondary raw materials.
“For the Eurasian Development Bank, this project is a logical continuation of our efforts to support sustainable development and green economy initiatives. We see great potential in creating an environment where recycling becomes part of the economic system and secondary resources become a source of growth and investment. The programme will lay the groundwork for future projects and provide impetus for developing modern waste management infrastructure in the Kyrgyz Republic,” said Nurlan Akmatov, Director of the EDB Representative Office in the Kyrgyz Republic.
“The project will provide the Ministry of Natural Resources with a ready-made tool for managing secondary resources, helping to stimulate recycling, attract investment in environmental projects and develop circular industries. This is an important step for the Kyrgyz Republic, as it will improve the efficiency of natural resource use and strengthen the country's position in the national green economy and climate resilience agenda,” said Artem Novikov, Chairman of the RKDF Management Board.
Additional Information:
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is a multilateral development bank investing in Eurasia. For more than 19 years, the Bank has worked to strengthen and expand economic ties and foster comprehensive development in its member countries. By July 2025, the EDB’s cumulative portfolio comprised 319 projects with a total investment of US $19.1 billion. The portfolio consists principally of projects with an integration effect in transport infrastructure, digital systems, green energy, agriculture, manufacturing and mechanical engineering. The Bank adheres to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles in its operations.
The EDB is implementing three mega-projects as part of its 2022–2026 Strategy: the Central Asian Water and Energy Complex, the Eurasian Transport Network and the Eurasian Agricultural Goods Distribution System.
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