Turkish investments in Kyrgyzstan have surpassed $1.4 billion, according to Turkish Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Ahmet Yurdakul, underscoring Ankara’s deepening economic footprint in Central Asia through construction, energy, textiles, and education.
Speaking at a business forum in Bishkek, Yurdakul cited official Turkish Ministry of Trade data showing over 650 Turkish companies operating in Kyrgyzstan employing more than 25,000 locals. Major projects include the Bishkek Thermal Power Plant upgrade, textile factories in Osh, and a network of private schools modeled after Turkey’s successful educational franchises.
On the outskirts of Bishkek, workers in hard hats smooth concrete at a new residential complex built by a Turkish firm. Nearby, children in crisp uniforms recite poetry in Turkish and Kyrgyz at a private school funded by a joint venture. “They don’t just bring capital,” says Gulnara Imanalieva, a local engineer now managing site logistics. “They bring systems and trust.”
Jumagulova’s program has sent over 300 Kyrgyz students to Turkish universities since 2020, with many returning to work at Turkish-owned enterprises. She calls it a “quiet bridge” not built of steel, but of shared language, history, and ambition. Her latest youth initiative pairs Kyrgyz apprentices with Turkish mentors in renewable energy startups.
While critics warn of overreliance on foreign capital, many Kyrgyz citizens see Turkish engagement as uniquely respectful rooted in cultural affinity rather than extraction. From mosque renovations funded by Turkish NGOs to women-led cooperatives exporting felt crafts via Turkish e-commerce platforms, the relationship pulses at street level.
As the sun sets over Ala-Too Square, a group of teenagers film a TikTok dance outside a Turkish café its sign written in both Kyrgyz and Ottoman script. In that moment, investment isn’t just a number on a balance sheet; it’s the hum of opportunity echoing through classrooms, construction sites, and conversations. And for a nation seeking its place between empires, that resonance matters more than ever.
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