The Ministry of Economy and Commerce hosted a specialized anti-corruption seminar on “Cross-sectoral approaches to reducing corruption vulnerabilities in Kyrgyzstan”. The event was organized by the Commissioner for Corruption Prevention Nazgul Sydygalieva and timed to coincide with the International Anti-Corruption Day, which is celebrated annually on December 9.

The seminar was attended by representatives of the Ministry and its subordinate institutions.

Since ratifying the UN Convention against Corruption in 2005, Kyrgyzstan has taken significant steps to combat corruption, including bribery and abuse of power. However, as noted in recent reports, the perception of corruption remains a pressing issue. In 2023, the country scored 26 out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 141st out of 180 countries.

The workshop focused on cross-sectoral approaches in the fight against corruption, involving collaboration between the public, private, civil society and international sectors. These approaches are an important part of the implementation of the national anti-corruption strategy.

Participants discussed key areas in the fight against corruption, such as developing institutional and legal frameworks, enhancing transparency and accountability, cooperation with business, international cooperation and anti-corruption education.

Successful examples of cross-sectoral initiatives included the Tunduk system of interagency electronic interaction, the “single window” information system for foreign trade, and the law on voluntary legalization and amnesty of individuals' assets. These projects are aimed at strengthening control and reducing corruption risks in various spheres.

The seminar participants also discussed topical issues related to the development of departmental plans, implementation of anti-corruption measures and compliance with ethical norms by officials. Special attention was paid to the issues of building a culture of intolerance to corruption, which, according to experts, is an important step to increase public confidence in state institutions.