Bishkek (TDI): The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has launched a multi-year initiative aimed at tackling air pollution in Kyrgyzstan, with the capital Bishkek as its main focus.
Officials from KOICA and Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision signed a Record of Discussions in Bishkek, formally kicking off the Air Quality Improvement Project.
The signing ceremony was attended by Kim Kwang-jae, South Korea’s ambassador to Kyrgyzstan; Minister Meder Mashiev; and KOICA Country Director Lim So Yeon.
The $10 million project will run until 2028 and is designed to strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s ability to address climate change and improve urban air quality. Bishkek, a city of more than one million people, regularly ranks among the world’s most polluted cities, especially in winter when widespread coal burning for heating causes emissions to spike.
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Key elements of the initiative include phased pollution reduction measures, the drafting of a Comprehensive Air Quality Management Plan for 2028–2038, and the pilot introduction of green heating solutions. Heat pumps will be installed in about 30 schools and kindergartens across the Chui region, benefiting an estimated 2.3 million residents with healthier and more sustainable indoor environments.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Kim said the project addressed an urgent challenge: “The issue of air quality is of particular concern in Bishkek, and it is important to address it. We look forward to the project’s success and stronger cooperation with the ministry.”
KOICA Country Director Lim expressed hope that the initiative would “deliver tangible results in combating climate change and improving public health,” while Minister Mashiev thanked South Korea for its continued support, noting that KOICA has been active in Kyrgyzstan for more than a decade.
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The initiative comes as part of broader South Korean engagement in Kyrgyzstan’s environmental and green energy sector. In recent months, partnerships have been forged to expand eco-friendly transport and reduce emissions. The Public-Private Partnership Center under Kyrgyzstan’s National Investment Agency, along with OJSC Chakan HPP and Korea’s BLUE NETWORKS CO., LTD., agreed to establish a local EV charging facility and develop a nationwide network.
Separately, in June, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce signed an MoU with Korean firms EVSIS, NGS, and the Korea Automobile Environment Association to advance EV charging infrastructure in Bishkek.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
