CFive Participates in the Second B5+1 Forum in Bishkek

On February 4-5, 2026, the CFive team took part in the second B5+1 Forum, held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic-an initiative that lies at the core of CFive’s mission to advance applied policy dialogue and practical economic cooperation in Central Asia.

The B5+1 Forum 2026 was organized by the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) in cooperation with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic under the Improving the Business Environment in Central Asia (IBECA) program, supported by the U.S. Department of State. Building on the momentum of the inaugural B5+1 Forum in Almaty in 2024 and the historic C5+1 Leaders’ Summit in 2025, the 2026 Forum marked an important step toward institutionalizing economic cooperation between the five Central Asian countries and the United States.

The B5+1 platform has evolved into a long-term mechanism aimed at promoting regional economic integration, improving national and regional business climates, and strengthening public–private dialogue. The Forum brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, business associations, and international partners to address key challenges and opportunities across priority sectors, including agriculture, finance and banking, critical minerals, e-commerce and IT, tourism, and transport and logistics. Through structured dialogue sessions and regional task forces, participants focused on developing practical policy recommendations and securing commitments to improve the business environment across Central Asia.

Discussions throughout the Forum demonstrated a clear shift from declarative political messaging toward concrete initiatives, sector-specific solutions, and institutional mechanisms designed to deliver measurable outcomes. Particular emphasis was placed on regulatory coherence, investment facilitation, regional connectivity, and the role of private sector leadership in advancing sustainable economic growth.

The Forum organizers positively assessed the outcomes of the Bishkek meeting and announced plans to convene five B5 forums-one in each Central Asian country. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are currently being considered as potential venues for the next forum, with Tashkent emerging as a leading option.

CFive’s participation focused on strengthening regional linkages and positioning the platform within the international expert and policy community, contributing to the formation of a more coordinated Central Asian voice in global economic and policy processes.

In addition to the B5+1 Forum, the CFive team participated in a closed event hosted by the Atlantic Council, where a substantive discussion was held on the outcomes of the Forum and next steps for advancing regional economic cooperation.

Alongside the official program, CFive held a series of productive meetings with experts from Central Asia and leading Western analytical and policy institutions. These exchanges laid the groundwork for promising joint initiatives and applied projects, details of which will be announced in due course.

CFive extends its sincere appreciation to the Forum organizers for the strong substantive agenda and high level of organization. We also warmly thank our Kyrgyz partners for their hospitality and wish continued success to the High Technology Park of Kyrgyzstan and the Investment Council of the Kyrgyz Republic in advancing Kyrgyzstan’s IT sector and innovation ecosystem.

Stay tuned for updates.