OREANDA-NEWS. October 01, 2013. The Government of Switzerland, the World Bank and the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on establishing a Financial Sector Development Trust Fund, which will provide technical assistance to the Kyrgyz Government on implementing reforms in the financial sector.

The project will support further improvement of the legal, regulatory and supervisory framework for the banking sector. The project is also aiming to increase the National Bank’s capacity to monitor and address vulnerabilities to maintain financial stability in the sector.

The Government of Switzerland will provide grant financing in the amount of more than USD 1 million for the Trust Fund, and the World Bank will administer and monitor the project.

“We are happy to team up with the World Bank and provide technical assistance to the Kyrgyz Government in order to deepen reforms in the country’s financial sector”, said Laurent Guye, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic. “Our support will enhance the role and capability of the National Bank as regulator and supervisor of the banking sector and thus contribute to the consolidation of healthy financial markets”.

“There is a well-established link between the financial sector development and accelerated economic growth. A well-functioning financial system provides reliable and inexpensive payments services, makes available remunerative and safe deposit facilities and offers to entrepreneurs access to short- and long-term funding,” said Alexander Kremer, World Bank Country Manager in the Kyrgyz Republic. “The Financial Sector Development Trust Fund will help the Kyrgyz government to ensure that financial systems work well and are stable, and that resources are allocated to the most productive uses – enhancing productivity, boosting poverty reduction effects of growth and promote equality of opportunity.”

“The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic highly appreciates the support provided by the Swiss Government and the World Bank. With the help of the Financial Sector Development Trust Fund, we will work on strengthening independence, responsiveness and overall capacity of the National Bank’s Department for Bank Supervision, as well as modernization of the Department’s ICT infrastructure,”  said Deputy Chairman of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic Zair Chokoev.

The Trust Fund activities will complement the World Bank’s assistance to the Kyrgyz Republic under a USD 8.85 million Financial Sector Development Project, which is aimed at enhancing financial sector stability and increasing access to financial services.