Japarov to Accord Manas City the Status of Kyrgyzstan's Second Economic Centre

The city of Manas will receive special status as Kyrgyzstan's second economic centre and will become a key transport and logistics hub and business centre for southern Kyrgyzstan. President Sadyr Japarov announced this at a national meeting devoted to strategic objectives for the next five years, according to Kabar.

The president said that "the city of Manas will be accorded special status as the second economic centre." According to him, it will become a crucial transport and logistics hub and business centre for southern Kyrgyzstan. Japarov noted that the more difficult the conditions for investment and business operations in regions, the more substantial state support should be, and such support must deliver concrete economic results.

The head of state also pointed to the need to implement the "Concept for Rational Land Use and Territorial Development of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2050." The concept provides for the development of compact settlements and multi-storey construction where seismic, engineering, and natural conditions permit. Japarov stressed that housing construction must be accompanied by the development of utilities, transport, and social infrastructure.

Decisions on the placement of new settlements and the expansion of existing ones, according to the president, should be made on the basis of a comprehensive assessment of land resources, water availability, and natural risks. This approach, as he noted, will make it possible to preserve fertile and irrigated land for agricultural production and ensure food security.