Central Asia and the United States: Bishkek to Host the Second B5+1 Business Forum
A briefing for the diplomatic corps was held in the capital of Kyrgyzstan to discuss preparations for the Second B5+1 Forum. The meeting, scheduled for February 4–5, 2026, will become a key platform for direct dialogue between the governments of Central Asian countries, the region's business community, and partners from the United States.
The upcoming forum is a direct continuation of the agreements reached by the leaders of Central Asian countries and the United States at the summit in Washington in November 2025.
The B5+1 Forum is more than just a forum for discussion; it is a practical tool for attracting investment and technology to key economic sectors. In Bishkek, special attention will be paid to five strategic areas:
Agriculture: modernization of the agricultural sector and food security.
Transport and logistics: development of regional corridors and simplification of trade procedures.
E-commerce and IT: implementation of digital solutions in business processes.
Critical minerals: cooperation in the extraction and processing of strategic raw materials.
Banking and tourism: strengthening financial stability and expanding tourism ties.
The key feature of the B5+1 format is the close cooperation between the public and private sectors. For Turkmen entrepreneurs, this is a unique opportunity to present their projects to international financial institutions and find partners to enter new export markets.
As the organizers noted, holding the Forum in the capital of Kyrgyzstan confirms the regional countries’ commitment to deep integration and the creation of a unified, investment-attractive Central Asian market.
The B5+1 platform serves as a business counterpart to the C5+1 diplomatic initiative, which unites the five Central Asian countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—with the United States. Launched by the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) as part of the Improvement of the Business Environment in Central Asia (IBECA) program, the B5+1 platform is supported by the US Department of State and aims to facilitate high-level interaction between business leaders and policymakers.
The first B5+1 forum took place in Almaty in March 2024 and focused on regional cooperation and connectivity, with a particular focus on empowering the private sector to support the objectives of the C5+1 economic and energy corridors.
ORIENT
