The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan has introduced the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code, a major new policy aimed at increasing financial access for women-led businesses, developed in collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The initiative is part of a broader push to unlock Kyrgyzstan’s untapped economic potential by targeting structural barriers that female entrepreneurs face when accessing finance.

At the launch event, Melis Turgunbaev said, “Women play a vital role in our small and medium-sized enterprise sector, which contributes significantly to the country’s GDP.” He added, “The launch of this Code, along with the recent legal recognition of the concept of ‘women’s entrepreneurship,’ lays a strong institutional foundation for directing financial sector resources toward this strategically important segment.”

Among the key measures introduced are higher limits on unsecured loans, aimed at improving women’s access to credit. Banks that participate in the scheme will benefit from lowered reserve requirements, cut to just 1%, making women-focused lending less risky and more attractive to financial institutions.

“We’re not just encouraging action—we are building real, functioning market mechanisms,” said Turgunbaev. “Financing women entrepreneurs is not only the right thing to do but also makes solid business sense.”

To manage the rollout and ensure accountability, a National Coalition has been formed under the Code. This group will coordinate all stakeholders, oversee progress, and guide gender-based data collection within financial institutions to support targeted policies in the future.

So far, ten major financial bodies including seven commercial banks, two microfinance firms, and the state-owned Guarantee Fund have committed to the programme.

The move is seen as a significant milestone in Kyrgyzstan’s effort to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth.