Arzybek Kozhoshev, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the Eurasian Economic Commission, spoke at the international conference “Global Mountain Dialogue” held in Bishkek. The discussion centered on the prospects for sustainable development of mountain regions, where the Minister outlined priority areas for improving the quality of life and economic activity.

In his speech, Kojoshev emphasized that the development of transport and energy infrastructure is a fundamental factor in the sustainable growth of mountainous areas. He paid special attention to the unique potential of Kyrgyzstan, which has a rich mountain landscape and natural resources. According to him, despite a record GDP growth of 9% in 2024, mountain regions face a number of challenges: isolation, climate risks and population outflow.

Key infrastructure projects aimed at overcoming these challenges include the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan international railroad and the Balykchi-Kochkor-Makmal internal line, as well as improving air links to remote regions of the country.

The energy sector was also one of the central topics of the speech. Kojoshev noted the need to actively develop renewable energy sources and unlock Kyrgyzstan's hydropower potential. This will not only ensure stable energy supply to hard-to-reach areas, but also reduce emissions, contributing to the preservation of glaciers.

“The development of RES and unlocking hydropower potential is an important step to increase energy availability in hard-to-reach mountainous areas, as well as to reduce dependence on external energy supplies, which is especially important for mountainous regions of the EAEU countries,” the Minister emphasized.