Government, private sector, and financial institutions called to invest in women to build economic prosperity in Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek, 11 March 2025 – The Kyrgyz Stock Exchange, in partnership with UN Women and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), hosted the 5th Annual “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” event to highlight the vital role of women's empowerment in achieving sustainable economic growth in the Kyrgyz Republic. This year's event was especially significant, marking 100 years of the women's movement in the country and celebrating a century of progress and advocacy for gender equality.

More than 60 representatives from government, financial institutions, the private sector, international organizations, and civil society participated in the event. Together, they reinforced the message that investing in women is not only an ethical necessity but also a critical economic strategy for sustainable development.

Sadiq Syed, Representative of UN Women in the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasized that when women have equal access to financial resources, leadership opportunities, and fair wages, businesses thrive, economies grow, and societies prosper. “We must shift from commitment to concrete action to ensure investments in women result in sustained and transformative change,” he stated.

The event served as a renewed call for the government, financial institutions, and the private sector to implement policy reforms, corporate initiatives, and financial strategies that create an inclusive economic environment where women have equal opportunities to succeed.

Aida Chodulova, Acting President of the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange, noted that this year’s event coincides with three historic milestones: the centenary of the women’s movement in Kyrgyzstan, the 50th anniversary of International Women’s Day, and 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action. “The Kyrgyz Stock Exchange's five-year participation in the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative has provided a platform for dialogue and for developing sustainable solutions to expand women’s economic rights,” she said.

Antje Grawe, UN Resident Coordinator in the Kyrgyz Republic, underlined that gender equality is both a human rights obligation and an economic priority. “Global evidence shows that companies in the top quartile for gender-diverse executive teams are 39% more likely to outperform financially. Yet in the Kyrgyz Republic, only 21.7% of firms have a woman as a top manager, and women entrepreneurs face a USD 262 million financing gap. I urge everyone to create enabling environments that ensure women’s access to capital, credit, and leadership roles,” she concluded.

Kyial Zhanuzakova, Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Welfare and Migration, stressed the link between gender equality, social stability, and sustainable development. She noted that women in Kyrgyzstan continue to face wage discrimination and limited access to formal employment, with nearly 60% working in the informal sector and only 12% accessing professional retraining programs. “We call upon businesses to adopt socially responsible practices that support women's economic independence and career advancement,” she stated, highlighting the need for cooperation between the public and private sectors.

The event also featured a panel discussion, aligned with the International Women’s Day 2025 theme, “Investing in Gender Equality.” The discussions focused on advancing gender equality through targeted investments, strengthening women's entrepreneurship, the role of business associations in promoting women leaders, enhancing women’s financial independence, implementing gender-responsive budgeting, the critical role of civil society in promoting economic gender equality, and strategies for integrating gender equality principles into corporate strategies.

The event concluded with the “Champions of Gender Equality” Award Ceremony, which recognized five awardees from government, business, and civil society for their outstanding commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Kyrgyz Republic. Awardees were honored for promoting inclusive policies, supporting women's leadership, and working to eliminate gender-based barriers in the workplace and beyond.

“Ring the Bell” is a global initiative, launched by the UN Global Compact, UN Women, IFC, the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (SSE), and the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE). Held annually to mark International Women's Day, it raises awareness among stock exchanges and private sector stakeholders about the power of women's economic empowerment in advancing gender equality and sustainable development.