Industrial Policy, Industrialization and Economic Development of Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan pursued the market-based reform in the process of transition. Based on the literature review and statistical data covering 1990s-2010s, this paper explains economic development and industrialization of Kyrgyzstan in its transition process. The government of Kyrgyzstan promoted several priority sectors including agriculture, mining, energy, garment and agro-processing industry by industrial policy measures. There is little evidence that Kyrgyzstan has a comparative advantage in agriculture. Gold mining is expected to be depleted by 2020s. Kyrgyzstan appears to be competitive in hydroelectricity generation and agro-processing industry. Although the garment industry has led the manufacturing sector, it has been losing the foreign investors’ attention. Therefore, it is necessary for Kyrgyzstan to think of the next stage of economic development with the new industrial-led economic development strategy. The government of Kyrgyzstan may benefit from promoting value-added industries. For such value-added industries to develop, strengthening infrastructure particularly in human capital would be critical.