KG Labs and World Bank representatives meeting aimed at discussing the development of the digital economy in Kyrgyz Republic

The founder of the KG Labs Public Foundation , Aziz Soltobaev, met with the representatives of the World Bank to discuss the issues associated with the digital economy. The meeting was attended by World Bank experts Samagan Aytymbetov and Ekaterina Gromova.

Aziz spoke about the activities of the KG Labs, the current picture of the ecosystem, ongoing activities aimed at developing technological entrepreneurship and the digital economy. Aziz also acquainted with the proposal for the development of the digital economy 2018-2023, as well as various recommendations on this industry. This project corresponds to the strategy of digital transformation of Taza Koom, included in the National Strategy of Sustainable Development 2040 and approved by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on August 13, 2018.

In particular, Aziz Soltobaev told about the current activities aimed at collecting primary statistical and analytical information for the subsequent economic evaluation of digitalization on the economy of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as actions aimed at analyzing supply and demand in the knowledge economy and developing recommendations to increase the benefits of digitalization of the economy.

In turn, the World Bank expert Ekaterina Gromova, spoke about the methodology of rapid assessment of the country’s readiness for the digital economy, developed by the World Bank (Digital Economy Country Assessment (DECA)). The first DECA pilot project was implemented in Russia in 2017, which tested the application of this tool. This work helped to assess the current state of Russia’s digital economy, identify gaps, challenges and opportunities and identify priority policy areas contained in the national program for the development of the digital economy.

As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed on further cooperation in developing recommendations and proposals for subsequent presentation to the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.