Strengthening Cybersecurity Infrastructure for Financial Institutions in Kyrgyzstan
The Kyrgyz Republic has launched a major initiative to enhance its cybersecurity infrastructure and environment, aimed at improving digital connectivity and government services. The project, supported by the World Bank’s Digital Central Asia South Asia (CASA) program, aims to increase access to affordable internet, attract private investment in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, and improve the government’s capacity to deliver digital services.
Regional Integration Efforts
The project is part of a broader regional effort to integrate landlocked countries in Central Asia and parts of South Asia into the global digital economy. The goal is to enable inclusive access by citizens and businesses to digital services through the development of a regionally integrated digital infrastructure.
Key Components
- Development of cybersecurity infrastructure for regional and domestic connectivity
- Provision of specialized networking and cybersecurity equipment, cabling, and IT infrastructure
- Establishment of digital platforms and shared services, such as:
- Authentication and identity management
- E-signature
- Unified notification and payment platforms
- Interoperability
- Cybersecurity and application/data-sharing platforms
- Consulting services and training for cybersecurity policy, strategy, and regulatory development
Alignment with National Plans
The initiative is aligned with the Kyrgyz Republic’s ‘Forty Steps to a New Era’ plan, which emphasizes the key role of digital technologies in addressing challenges such as:
- The digital divide
- Economic resilience
- Social security
- National security
It also supports the government’s Digital Transformation Program, “Taza Koom”, aimed at building a transparent and efficient public administration system.
Cybersecurity Capacity Maturity Assessment
The project has received support from various studies, including a Cybersecurity Capacity Maturity Assessment conducted in collaboration with Oxford University. With its focus on cybersecurity infrastructure and enabling environment, the project is expected to have significant impacts on the country’s financial institutions and overall economic development.
Expected Outcomes
- Improved digital connectivity
- Increased access to affordable internet
- Attraction of private investment in the ICT sector
- Enhanced government capacity to deliver digital services
- Strengthened cybersecurity infrastructure for regional and domestic connectivity