Online Lecture on the Digital Som and Financial Inclusion in Kyrgyzstan

On 10 July 2025, the OSCE Academy in Bishkek hosted an online public lecture by Ms. Nurgul Akimova, economist and expert in digital transformation. Her topic was "The Digital Som as a Strategic Tool for Financial Inclusion and Transparency in the Kyrgyz Republic." Students, researchers, and policy professionals gathered to discuss the opportunities and challenges of adopting a national digital currency in Kyrgyzstan.

In her lecture, Ms. Akimova shared the findings of her policy research on how the Digital Som, a proposed Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), could help address low financial inclusion and informality and improve transparency in public finance. She also talked about comparative observations on foreign CBDC projects in China, Nigeria, and Europe and examined how Kyrgyzstan fits into this global landscape.

The presentation also addressed the current state of digital infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan and evaluated its strengths and limitations. Ms. Akimova offered a series of policy and technical recommendations for the National Bank and government agencies, along with an interactive step-by-step implementation roadmap. There was also a special focus on the need for cybersecurity, privacy, and interoperability with global systems.

This lecture is one of the OSCE Academy's contributions to promoting dialogue on key regional policy issues and facilitating knowledge exchange among experts and prospective professionals in Central Asia.

Back to list