On 13 December 2021, an in-person training on improving interagency co-operation between the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Business Ombudsman Institution of the Kyrgyz Republic in the area of protection of the rights of entrepreneurs was organised in Bishkek by the action “Promoting Transparency and Action against Economic Crime (CA TAEC)” within the framework of the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme 2020-2023.

The training was conducted as practical follow-up to the domestic analysis of the existing regulatory framework and the presentation of its findings which took place in April 2021. The training served to enhance the capacities of the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Business Ombudsman Institution in the field of protection of the rights of entrepreneurs by providing a forum for discussing the existing regulatory framework, exploring ways of improving co-operation and analysing the role of both institutions in the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs, as well as reviewing current practices in investigating corruption.

The training was endorsed by the Business Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic, Robin Ord-Smith, and the Head of Department for Supervision of the Observance of the Rights of Entrepreneurs and Environmental Laws of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Kyrgyz Republic, Arslanbek Murzaev, who delivered the opening remarks. The work on supporting the beneficiary authorities in establishing effective mechanisms of protection of the rights of entrepreneurs and prevention of corrupt practices will continue.

This event was organised in the framework of the action “Promoting Transparency and Action against Economic Crime” within the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme 2020-2023, which is a joint initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe. The action is aimed at strengthening capacities to fight and prevent economic crime in five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.