Central Asian Republics

Europe & Eurasia

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Country Profile

The Country Profile below contains the Country Profile, Overview of USAID’s Focus in Kyrgyzstan, and USAID/Kyrgyzstan Contact Information.

Adobe Acrobat PDF (173kb file)

Background

>Although small, land-locked with limited natural resources, Kyrgyzstan has been the most open, progressive and cooperative of the Central Asian republics. It is important to stability in the region and has remained a stalwart friend of the United States. The Kyrgyz Republic is a firm ally in the War on Terrorism and a significant coalition member. Its geographic location at the headwaters of major river systems in Central Asia enable it to affect critical and sensitive issues such as irrigated agriculture, electricity generation, and the environment in the downstream countries of Central Asia.

Weak governance, continuing poverty, potential ethnic tensions, a porous southern border with Tajikistan and an essentially closed border with Uzbekistan are potential sources of conflict that could threaten regional stability and U.S. economic and political interests in Central Asia. Earlier armed incursions in the south of Kyrgyzstan by rebels from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and increased recruitment by the Hizb-u-Tahrir (both radical Islamic organizations) heighten the urgency to accelerate economic growth.

To read more, see the Kyrgyzstan Country Profile (Adobe Acrobat PDF, 173kb file).

Links

Many internet resources provide information on Kyrgyzstan. In addition to those noted on this page, check the following reference. Websites for Kyrgyzstan and the Central Asia Region