30 municipalities of Issyk-Kul and Jalal-Abad provinces exchanged best practices on improving services at the local level in Kyrgyzstan

Local news, 03.12.2018

On November 30, 2018, a Conference on best practices to improve public service delivery at the local level was held in Bishkek. The event was attended by representatives of 30 municipalities of Issyk-Kul and Jalal-Abad provinces and government agencies.

Conference on best practices for municipalities © Swiss Embassy Bishkek, 2018

The conference was supported by the Swiss-funded Public Service Improvement project. It provided a platform to present and exchange on concrete examples of improved services at the local level in the municipalities of Issyk-Kul and Jalal-Abad provinces. For example, representatives of Kumbel municipality shared their experience in organizing the drinking water supply service, and representatives of Toktogul city spoke about improving the collection and removal of solid waste in their city. In addition, other municipalities shared their experience on improving services on lightning of public areas, preschool education, including education for children with special educational needs, and maintenance of internal roads.

The head of the Development Department of Local Self-Governments at the State Agency on Local Self-Government and Interethnic Relations Azamat Shameyev noted the importance of such events in development of regions and improvement of services at the local level. He informed that the Development Program of Local Self-Governments has been recently adopted, which includes a number of activities to improve services at the local level. Also Azamat Shameyev informed that jointly with the Ministry of Economy they work on the document that will reflect the public opinion about the quality of provided services.

The Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic, Danielle Meuwly Monteleone, emphasized that the next important step will be to ensure that improved services are sustainable and best practices are institutionalized at the national level. It will also be crucial to enhance local finances and to address deficiencies in intergovernmental relations.

150’000 people benefit from the 38 action plans on improving services supported by the project over the past four years. This included 9 initiatives to ensure sustainable access to clean drinking water, 11 services to improve the quality and accessibility of pre-school and school education (including education for children with special educational needs), 9 services in the field of cultural and leisure activities (park areas, cultural and sports services) and 8 plans for maintenance and cleaning of public areas.

The overall cost of the implementation of these action plans was more than 97 million soms. The own contribution of the municipalities amounted to more than 33 million soms or almost 26%, which shows the importance and relevance of the problems in municipalities.

The Public Service Improvement Project is funded by the Swiss Government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Helvetas Kyrgyzstan and the Development Policy Institute.

 

Local news, 26.07.2018

President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset
President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset © Keystone/Gaetan Bally

Dear Swiss Abroad

I am delighted that you have gathered today for our national holiday. 

 Wherever you live: 

  • You are an important and an indispensable part of our country.  

The Swiss abroad – if all seven hundred and fifty two thousand (752,000) of you were in one canton – would represent the third largest in Switzerland, after Zurich and Bern and ahead of Vaud. 

This most diverse of all cantons stretches

  • from Ireland to India,
  • from Korea to Kyrgyzstan, 

  • from Greenland to Ghana. 

But what unites you all is your very special view of Switzerland. 

  • It is a perspective of intimate distance.
  • An eye for the essentials. 

You know how much Switzerland stands for international stability - which can also be seen in the strength of the Swiss franc. 

And you know that our country is seen as open-minded, which is also thanks to you

  • the unofficial ambassadors of our country.  

 

International relations

Dear Swiss Abroad

Switzerland is committed to fairness and mutual respect in our international relations. 

States are not only our competitors, but also our partners.

  • That is sometimes questioned today.

  • However, we can’t allow this to mislead us.

  • Because Switzerland, as a small country, is dependent on rules-based international relations.

  • Our country stands by these rules.

  • Not least because of International Geneva, where the UN has its European headquarters as well as the World Trade Organization. 

 

EU - Europe

Dear Swiss Abroad,

Relations with the EU are particularly important. The EU is our most important trading partner. 

Indeed, it is in the interest of both sides to have good relations.

  • That is of course important for everyone

  • Who lives in an EU country. 

We live on a continent at peace.

Despite all the problems with the euro and migration we must not forget: Europe is doing better than ever before.

In this regard, European integration played a decisive role.

We must do everything we can for a political commitment to peace and security and regulated trade relations. 

Because such a commitment also strengthens Switzerland.

  • A country of stability,

  • Which is dependent on stable international relations.

You, too, dear Swiss Abroad, strengthen our country, 

  • by making self-assured and energetic contributions 

  • with your experience, knowledge and ideas.   

I wish you all a happy First of August.  

President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset: National Day 2018 greetings for the Swiss abroad

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