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According to the EDB, by the end of 2025, the amount of direct foreign investments from China in Kyrgyzstan reached $2.1 billion. Over the past five years, there has been a noticeable increase in investment activity, especially after 2022, when the volume of Chinese investments amounted to $326 million, allowing China to take the second position among the largest investors in the country. In 2024, Beijing became the main source of capital for the Kyrgyz economy, with the total value of announced projects exceeding $1 billion.
As noted by the EDB, the main focus of Chinese investments is infrastructure and industry. In particular, about $150 million has been allocated for the modernization of highways, and approximately $120 million for the construction and reconstruction of energy facilities, including 15 small and medium-sized hydropower plants. About $85 million has been invested in the mining sector.
The construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway remains a key strategic project. Its implementation is carried out in collaboration with China Railway International, with China's share in the project being 51 percent. The total investments from the Chinese side are estimated at $3.5 billion, of which more than $2 billion are provided in the form of concessional loans.
A significant portion of Chinese investments is also directed towards the manufacturing industry. In the cement sector, the Kant Cement Plant, managed by the Chinese company Yatai, stands out, with a production capacity of over 1.2 million tons per year. Investments in its development amount to about $100 million. In metallurgy, a significant project is the Alliance Altyn LLC in the Talas region, where Chinese investments exceed $200 million.
However, EDB experts emphasize that the high concentration of Chinese investments in key sectors may lead to the formation of quasi-monopolies and an increased dependence on imports of both equipment and labor, which could negatively impact the development of local businesses in the future.
