Kyrgyzstan Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in kyrgyzstan, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Select Country Guide
Kyrgyz Republic - Selling Factors & Techniques
Last published date:

Products sold in Bishkek tend to be marketed in Russian and Kyrgyz. There is a mandatory requirement for all advertisements to be in the Kyrgyz language. Due to the widespread use of the Russian language, however, companies usually advertise in both languages.

Trade Promotion & Advertising

A full range of advertising opportunities is available via print media, radio, television, billboards, promotional goods and sponsorship of events. Several local agencies can handle advertising campaigns.

Taxation

The Kyrgyz Republic’s VAT is currently 12 percent. There is also a sales tax of 1 percent  for trade activity and 2 percent  for all other business. For companies that are not obligated to pay VAT, sales taxes are a bit higher – 2 percent  for trade activity, and 3 percent  for all other business. Leasing companies are exempt from VAT and sales tax, and receive a preferential income tax rate of 5 percent. Depending on economic conditions and increased demand, the government may temporarily cancel  VAT for certain products. Since 2022, foreign companies providing digital services without using a domain name or IP address registered in the Kyrgyz Republic must pay VAT on income from their services. According to the State Tax Service of the Kyrgyz Republic 42 companies (including  streaming services, software developers and others) have registered online as tax payers (vat.salyk.kg), though data through 2022 shows few have begun submitting taxes to the Kyrgyz budget. 

Sales Service/Customer Support

Consistent, friendly customer service is still a relatively rare phenomenon in the Kyrgyz Republic, but the service in Bishkek is improving. Any firm offering reliable customer and after-sales service stands to benefit in the local marketplace.

 

Local Professional Services

Firms providing professional services include:

 

Grant Thornton

Mr. Armen Vanyan, Managing Partner

125/1, Toktogul str. Avangard Business Center, 5th floor

Bishkek

Kyrgyz Republic

Phone: +996 (312) 97 94 90

https://www.grantthornton.kg

 

Ernst & Young Audit LLC

125/1, Toktogul str. Avangard Business Center, Offices 309-310

Bishkek

Kyrgyz Republic

https://www.ey.com/en_gl/locations/kyrgyz-republic

Phone:  +996 (312) 90 70 90 (Bishkek Office)

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers Bishkek LLP

125/1, Toktogul str. Avangard Business Center, Tower B, Office 404

Bishkek,

Kyrgyz Republic

Phone: +996 (555) 51 52 34

https://www.pwc.com/kg/en/  

 

KPMG

Office 201, 21 Erkindik Blvd

Bishkek 720040

Kyrgyz Republic

Phone: +996 (312) 62 33 80

E-mail: kpmg@kpmg.kg

https://home.kpmg/kz/ru/home/about/offices/bishkek-1.html

For a list of legal services providers, please see the U.S. Embassy website:

https://kg.usembassy.gov/services/

Principal Business Associations

The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), the International Business Council (IBC), and the JIA Business Association are leading organizations that represent hundreds of international and local companies from diverse industries. All associations are members of different platforms that assist with business and government dialogues, including the Investment Council under the Government and the Business Council under the Parliament. AmCham and IBC accept U.S. companies as members. For more information, please visit https://www.amcham.kg/ and https://www.ibc.kg/en/.

Limitations on Selling U.S. Products and Services

There are no restrictions on selling U.S. products, though all products must conform to Kyrgyz and EAEU standards and regulations.

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility