The Kambar-Ata HPP-1 project may include the largest bank of Japan

The Ministry of Finance of Kyrgyzstan held talks with representatives of MUFG Bank, the largest commercial bank in Japan and one of the world’s leading financial institutions. The meeting became a notable event, since MUFG Bank had not previously appeared among the creditors of the republic, and no contacts with it were publicly reported.

The focus was on two strategic infrastructure projects for Central Asia – the construction of the Kambar-Ata HPP-1 and the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway. The Kyrgyz side assured potential partners of its openness to cooperation and readiness to provide comfortable conditions for investors. The position of the authorities is that attracting capital to these initiatives will strengthen the country’s energy and transport independence and will stimulate sustainable economic growth.

The ministry considers MUFG Bank as a “key partner in achieving ambitious goals.” For the Japanese side, participation in major infrastructure projects in Central Asia may be an element of a long-term strategy to expand its economic presence in the region, where there is high competition between world powers.

Following the talks, Finance Minister Almaz Baketayev sent an official invitation to the MUFG Bank delegation to visit Kyrgyzstan. It is expected that a more detailed discussion of investment opportunities and specific conditions for potential cooperation will take place during the visit. Although funding decisions have not yet been made, the very fact of the start of a dialogue between Bishkek and a financial giant from Japan indicates the search for new sources for the implementation of large-scale projects.

Original (in Russian): В проект Камбаратинской ГЭС-1 может войти крупнейший банк Японии