BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, August 22. Approximately 350,000 individuals used the services of microcredit organizations in Kyrgyzstan from January through June 2023, which is 17 percent more than in the same period in 2022, Trend reports.
According to the country’s State Statistical Committee, the value of the provided microloans totaled around 24 billion soms (271.8 million), which is an increase of 35.5 percent year-on-year.
The majority of microloan borrowers were located in the Osh region (about 21 percent of the total borrowers) and the Jalal-Abad region (over 17 percent), as well as in the city of Bishkek (around 16 percent).
Furthermore, the largest value of microloans was given to recipients in Bishkek (over 19 percent of the total value), the Osh region (17 percent), and the Chuy and Jalal-Abad regions (both around 15.8 percent).
Out of the total microloans disbursed in the first half of the current year, almost 46 percent were used for personal needs, more than 25 percent were directed towards agricultural activities, about 12 percent were directed toward trade and public catering, and over 5 percent were used for construction.