Kyrgyzstan to develop compact construction and regional settlement

President Sadyr Japarov said at a government meeting in Bishkek that Kyrgyzstan's system of territorial planning and population settlement will be changed. He stressed that the country's priorities remain equalising living standards across the regions and developing key cities as the main drivers of economic growth.

Under this policy, the settlement of Manas will receive a special status as the country's second economic centre. The basic guideline for urban development will be the Concept for the Rational Use of Land and Territorial Development of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2050. It provides for a shift toward compact settlements and multi-storey construction that takes seismic and engineering conditions into account.

Authorities believe the new approach will help preserve valuable arable and irrigated land for agriculture, protect water resources and ensure the country's food security.