When it comes to real estate investments, most people in Kyrgyzstan instinctively choose apartments. Construction companies focus on building residential complexes in the center of Bishkek or in new areas beyond the Southern Highway, where modern high-rises emerge in just a few years. The main argument for this choice is liquidity: apartments in prestigious areas appreciate quickly in value and are easy to sell.

Why are residential buildings always tied to prestigious areas?

Residential complex developers cannot afford to build "just anywhere" — demand for housing is driven by areas with well-developed infrastructure, prestigious schools and convenient transport accessibility. Apartments in such areas are more expensive and are quicker to sell.

Moreover, in most areas of the city, free engineering infrastructure is simply nonexistent, and as a result, developers have to find their own solutions for heating, build transformer substations to supply electricity and address sewage treatment issues. This makes residential complex construction in many areas challenging and requires significant additional costs. Consequently, developers strive to secure the most attractive plots in areas with existing infrastructure, leading to even greater urban density and a significant increase in land prices.

For this reason, the construction of residential complexes is strictly tied to developed infrastructure, the prestige of the area and convenience for residents. However, while housing construction is heavily location-dependent, commercial real estate does not face such restrictions.

Why should profitable commercial real estate be built outside the city limits of Bishkek?

Unlike apartments, commercial real estate offers significantly more flexibility in location selection, as it is not tied to the prestige of area or the center of Bishkek. This category includes various properties such as offices, retail pavilions, supermarkets, warehouses, roadside service facilities, auto repair shops, workshops and production spaces.

Their success depends not on the prestige of the area but on the convenience of business operations, the availability of parking, customer traffic and access to major roads. This is why commercial real estate can be effectively developed not only in the city center but also in industrial zones, along major highways and in newly emerging, promising districts of Kyrgyzstan.

Unlike residential real estate, commercial real estate is actively exploring new territories.

• Many urban infrastructure facilities, such as the Osh market and the Bishkek bus station, are being relocated outside the city, creating new promising locations for commercial real estate development.
• Industrial enterprises and processing plants are being built in district centers such as Kant, Tokmok, Kara-Balta and Kemin, where an available workforce is present.
• Warehouse complexes are being built outside the city limits to facilitate logistics for heavy-duty vehicles.
• Major retail chains, such as "Globus" and "Asia", are expanding their presence in the regions of Kyrgyzstan, creating opportunities for the construction of supermarkets and retail pavilions.
• The development of new highways, such as the North-South route and the ring road around Issyk-Kul, is creating opportunities for business growth in previously undeveloped districts.
• The development of new tourist destinations, such as "Three Peaks" and Kyrgyz Courchevel, is creating opportunities for the construction of tourist real estate and the establishment of modern recreational infrastructure.

Commercial real estate significantly surpasses residential real estate in terms of location flexibility, making it a more promising investment option. While the construction of residential complexes is strictly tied to prestigious areas and well-developed infrastructure, commercial properties can successfully operate outside the city center, in new districts of Bishkek, industrial zones, nearby cities and district centers across Kyrgyzstan.

The development of transport infrastructure, the relocation of key urban facilities, the rapid growth of district centers and the increasing demand for warehouse and production spaces are creating new opportunities for commercial real estate development. These changes present investors with the possibility of constructing retail, warehouse and industrial facilities in areas where residential development would be unprofitable or unfeasible.

Thus, investors should broaden their perspective on real estate by considering not only apartments in Bishkek but also commercial projects in rapidly developing locations across the country. While apartments remain a reliable asset, focusing solely on residential properties in 2025 means missing out on far greater and more profitable opportunities.