Exhibition dedicated to local self-governance is open at Art gallery in Bishkek

Local news, 07.11.2017

Official opening of the posters’ exhibition dedicated to citizen participation in municipal life and transparency of local self-governments took place on November 2, 2017 at Aitiev National Art gallery in Bishkek. Until November 19, 2017 guests of the Gallery will have a chance to see posters of artists who participated in the competition “Live better: here and now, 2017”.  Around 180 posters were submitted for the competition by more than 80 authors.

Exhibition dedicated to local self-governance in Bishkek © Swiss Embassy Bishkek, 2017

The competition’s aim was to visualize problems faced by local governments and local communities as well as to identify solutions and good practices. 

Artists and authors of the posters from different regions of Kyrgyzstan, representatives of the State Agency on local self-governance and interethnic relations under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic as well as representatives of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic participated in the opening ceremony. During the event, winners and successful participants received awards.

“I am convinced that the visual art works that we see today will encourage citizens of Kyrgyzstan, including women, youth and vulnerable groups, to actively participate in the life of their communities and get involved in local self-governance,” – said Lucien Aegerter, representative of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The competition was organized by the “Municipalitet” magazine (www.municipalitet.kg) under the “Voice of citizens and accountability of local self-governments: budgetary process” project (www.vap.kg) funded by the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).  The competition was conducted by the Development Policy Institute with participation of design.kg, the Union of artists of Kyrgyzstan and the Chuikov Art college.

The project aims at more transparent and effective management of local finances by local self-governments through increased accountability and citizen participation in decision making processes.

Local news, 10.07.2017

The Swiss Federal Councillor and Minister of Finance, Ueli Maurer, visits Kyrgyzstan on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the joint voting group in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The visit takes place from 9 to 10 July and included meetings with President Almazbek Atambaev, Minister of Finance Adylbek Kasymaliev, Governor of the National Bank Tolkunbek Abdygulov as well as with local entrepreneurs and opinion leaders. 

Meeting with President Almazbek Atambaev

Swiss Federal Councillor and Minister of Finance, Ueli Maurer visits several countries in Central Asia, including Kyrgyzstan. The visit has taken place in the context of the 25th anniversary of the joint voting group with Switzerland in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. 

On the occasion of his visit to Kyrgyzstan, Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer met President Almazbek Atambaev and the Minister of Finance Adylbek Kasymaliev as well as the Governor of the National Bank Tolkunbek Abdygulov. In addition, he visited local companies and exchanged with local entrepreneurs and opinion leaders, including on export promotion and the “Taza Koom” (Clean society) project foreseeing the digitalisation of the society. 

The joint voting group in the IMF and the World Bank was founded in 1992. Next to Switzerland and Kyrgyzstan it today also includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan Poland, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (the latter only in the World Bank). On behalf of this voting group, Switzerland represents the constituency and its interests with one of the 24 seats in both the Board of Directors of the IMF and World Bank. 

On his visit Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer is accompanied by State Secretary Jörg Gasser of the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters in the Federal Department of Finance.