European Union and Kyrgyzstan open Migrant Resource Centre in Bishkek; to promote safe and legal migration pathways

European Commission Programme Manager Cosimo Lamberti-Fossati and Deputy Minister Mirlanbek Baigonchokov of the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration, were joined by Mr Baktybek Esenbekovich Kudaiberdiev, Director of the Centre for Employment of Citizens Abroad (CECA), and ICMPD Deputy Director of Migration Dialogues and Cooperation Nicola Graviano and at the launch.

“We are taking another significant step in making migration safer, more organised, and more beneficial for our citizens. In recent years, migration has remained a vital part of our country’s economy and social life. Tens of thousands of Kyrgyz citizens work abroad, supporting their families and making a significant contribution to the development of Kyrgyzstan. Our main goal is to ensure that every citizen who decides to work abroad can do so legally, safely, and with maximum protection of their rights,” Mr Kudaiberdiev said.

Established under the EU-funded PROTECT project implemented by ICMPD and in cooperation with the CECA under the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration, the new MRC will also engage national authorities in the capital, and conduct awareness raising and information campaigns in the northern regions of Kyrgyzstan. The PROTECT project supports governments in Central Asia and Silk Routes region to enhance migration governance frameworks, institutional capacities, and services for migrants.

“We are honoured to have the trust of the Government of Kyrgyzstan and the European Union, in continuing our work on the MRCs – a decade since we started this network of Centres globally. This MRC will be very practical and timely for those considering migrating and returning, ensuring their choices are informed, safe, and rights-based. We are proud to support Kyrgyzstan’s work in strengthening migration governance and services for its citizens and beyond,” Mr Graviano said.

Cooperation with Kyrgyzstan was formalised through two Memorandums of Understanding. The first one was signed in 2022 between ICMPD and Council of Migration and Countering Trafficking in Human Beings under Speaker of the Zhogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic; and the second signed in 2023 between ICMPD and Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic. A third cooperation agreement, this time between CECA and ICMPD, was also signed during the MRC opening – to fully operationalise the MRC.  

The new Migrant Resource Centre in Bishkek is the fourth in Central Asia (along with the ones in Tashkent in Uzbekistan; and Dushanbe, Tajikistan). The first MRC in Kyrgyzstan opened in Osh on 5 March 2024. Since its opening, the Migrant Resource Centre in Osh has provided assistance to more than 21,000 people through in-person consultations, pre-departure meetings, informational and educational events, and job fairs. 621 citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic have received training as part of its activities. Across ICMPD’s wider network of MRCs, it is the 14^th globally, including the Centres in Bangladesh, Iraq, and Pakistan, as well as a virtual centre for Afghanistan.

The opening is part of the commemoration of the MRCs’ 10^th anniversary, when the first MRCs in Pakistan opened in 2016. The opening event in Bishkek gathered more than 60 representatives from the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the EU Delegation in in Kyrgyzstan, EU Member States, Embassies, UN agencies, ICMPD leadership and technical staff, international organisations and civil society, and local development partners, academia and media. 

Background

Developed in partnership with the Centre for Employment of Citizens Abroad, MRC aims to empower migrants to make informed, safe decisions and strengthen national capacities to manage migration effectively. Similar to the MRC in Osh, the MRC in Bishkek will offer reliable, accessible and up-to-date support to prospective migrants, returning citizens, and their families. 
Specifically, dedicated services for Kyrgyz citizens include:

• Awareness sessions on legal migration channels and employment opportunities abroad
• Information campaigns on the risks of irregular migration, human trafficking, and exploitation
• Pre-departure (for departing migrants) and reintegration counselling (for returnees)
• Soft skills training for various stakeholders

The new MRC is part of PROTECT project, funded by the EU and implemented by ICMPD between 2023 and 2026. The MRC in Bishkek builds on the success of the ones established in Dushanbe, Tajikistan (November 2023), Osh, Kyrgyzstan (March 2024) and Tashkent, Uzbekistan (August 2025) in Central Asia. Other MRCs supported under PROTECT include the virtual MRC Afghanistan and the 3 MRCs in Pakistan.

Following the launch, the MRCs will expand their outreach to the regions across Kyrgyzstan, support CECA’s safe migration caravan, collaborate with local institutions, and engage with various community leaders and influencers for wider and effective awareness raising on migration. The data from the information campaigns can also provide insights to help shape evidence-based national migration policies, strengthen governance structure and support more effective service delivery.

For more information, please contact:

Mike Saycon

Media and Communications Officer, ICMPD

mike.saycon@icmpd.org

Mobile: +43 676 545 0777