Kyrgyz Chapter of Internet Society in partnership with KG Labs Public Foundation will prepare roadmap for ICT development for Osh oblast and city in upcoming months. ISOC signed agreement with GIZ programme “Promotion of Sustainable Economic Development” (NaWi) to help the most populous regions of Kyrgyz Republic to secure sustainable development with enabling technology adoption and digital skills. Aziz Soltobaev will lead team of experts to prepare guidance and roadmap.
Programme Background
In 2017, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic adopted the concept of regional development “Cities – points of growth”. This concept envisaged the development of strategic development programs for 20 cities of Kyrgyzstan using the basics of business planning. The implementation of the concept was divided into several stages, where the first stage incorporates development programs for 5 pilot cities, including Osh, Jalal-Abad, Kara-Balta, Karakol and Naryn.
In 2018, the GIZ programme on “Promoting Sustainable Economic Development” provided technical support to the Osh city development program. The project for the creation and development of ICT is one of the business plans included in the strategic program for the development of the city.
In 2018 the programme supported Osh City Hall to improve knowledge and skills on attracting and promoting investments, including FDI. ICT was chosen as a pilot sector for attracting investments.
During the period between July-November 2018 an international expert conducted weekly online webinars/conferences during which a quick initial analysis on the status of ICT in the region was carried out. The expert also provided advice on strategic ICT business planning.
The Agency for External Relations and Development of the Business Environment and private ICT entrepreneurs have jointly developed the concept of creating an ICT Technopark based primarily on the inputs of the international expert.
Further development of the project involves the transition from the stage of theory to practical implementation. To carry out such a transition a comprehensive consultation is needed particularly in view of scenario planning to cross check the theoretical concept of the Technopark with the current economic development of Osh and Osh oblast, it’s legal framework and the market conditions.
Aziz Soltobaev and his team will carry out an in-depth analysis of current level of ICT development in coherence with the potential opportunities with the objective to develop an ICT development roadmap. The roadmap should clearly outline a set of actions with stipulated timelines enabling the responsible partner structure to fully utilise local /regional resources with the knowledge and the experience in ICT and develop strategies and potential partnerships.
Osh City Hall: represented by the Agency for External Relations and Development of the Business Environment under the Osh City Hall, the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in Osh oblast and the Agency for the Promotion and Protection of Investments.
The purpose of this assignment is to provide strategic guidance to the NGO “ICT Technopark” (established on the initiative of a private entrepreneur and the Osh city hall) in their objective of developing a comprehensive roadmap towards creation and development of ICT technology park in Osh.
