In the Kyrgyz Republic, Female Entrepreneurs Grow their Future

Inabat Abdyrakhmanova, a 53-year-old single mother of three, lives on the outskirt of Bishkek, the capital. Her textile shop specializes in the production of traditional Kyrgyz clothes that are sold in Bishkek's Dordoi market, the largest trading hub in Central Asia.

While much of the production in Inabat's shop is automated, she takes joy in personally designing the textile's intricate embroidery. “This makes me feel like I am carrying on my parents’ dreams,” she says.

Inabat has taken two loans from the Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank (KICB) since 2020, facilitating the relocation of her business from Sokuluk, a remote village, to Bishkek for better access to market.

Ildys Karazhieva resides in the village of Kennesh with her three sons and five grandchildren. In 2012, Ildys took out her first loan from Elet Capital, a microfinance company. The loan amounted to around 1 million KGS, allowing Ildys to purchase some cows. The income generated from selling cow milk not only sustains the household but also provides a steady supply of homemade yogurt and other dairy products for her grandchildren.

As her business flourished, Ildys took out a second loan to establish a poultry business—a venture she cherishes. With the extra income, “I can buy everything that my grandchildren need for school. All of them attend school regularly,” she says.

When Mairamgul Baimuratova and her husband bought their house in Grigoryevka, they were lured by the property's lush garden. With financial support from Elet Capital, a microfinance company, coupled with time and dedicated effort, the garden has flourished into a verdant haven boasting 300 varieties of apples, along with raspberries, blueberries, and vegetables.

Mairamgul's fresh produce, especially her apples, is exported abroad through retailers who visit the village to procure products. “I really enjoy what I do,” says Baimuratova. “With the harvest, I can create various type of jams for my children and, when they visit us, they savor it with immense pleasure and happiness.”