BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. The Silk Road Fund (SRF) is ready to invest in transport and energy projects in Kyrgyzstan, a source at the fund told Trend.
Stating their openness to investing in transportation and energy projects in Kyrgyzstan and the broader Central Asian region, the source highlighted SRF's preparedness to collaborate with partners and invest in suitable opportunities aligned with market principles and on a commercial basis.
It was noted that SRF is presently involved in a market-oriented private equity project in Kyrgyzstan.
This project encompasses investments in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through a diverse range of instruments such as common shares, preferred shares, and mezzanine debt. These investments span various sectors including education, healthcare, consumer goods, processing, and manufacturing. Moreover, the project extends its reach to other Central Asian countries.
"The project will, to a certain extent, alleviate financing difficulties of SMEs, create more jobs and promote social and economic development of Central Asian countries. The project will also boost the development of the private equity market in Central Asia and help diversify the local financial market," the source said.
The Silk Road Fund, a medium- and long-term equity investment fund established by China, aims to enhance high-quality collaborations within the Belt and Road initiative.
The fund directs its investments towards diverse projects across key Belt and Road countries and regions spanning Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, North Africa, and Europe. SRF focuses on sectors such as infrastructure, energy, resources, industrial cooperation, financial collaboration, and sustainable investments.