The Krygyz Republic
The Kyrgyz Republic (Formerly known as Krygyzstan) is an independant nation located in Central Asia.
Landlocked and mountainous, it borders Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and the People's Republic of China to the southeast. The Kyrgyz Republic has a population of approximately 5.5 million.
The Tien Shan Range, which runs through 80% of the Kyrgyz Republic, has some of the highest and most beautiful mountain peaks in the world. These give rise to numerous rivers and lakes, including Lake Issyk-Kul literally "hot lake", named for its year-round ice free waters despite the high altitude and freezing winters. Lake Issyk-Kul is the second largest mountain lake in the world after Titicaca in South America.
Government and Fiscal Regime
The Kyrgyz Republic is often called the Switzerland of Central Asia for both its scenic beauty and fiscal appeal.
A democratic country, it has a stable economy, stable currency and an excellent fiscal regime with low tax rates - 10% income tax and royalties on oil production of around 5.5%, with no government profit sharing agreements.
It is a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and has a free market economy with freedom to transfer funds, export oil and exchange currency. There are strong foreign investment laws with added protection of an investment agreement with the government.
Oil Market
The three oil refineries in the Kyrgyz Republic all supplement feedstock with imported crude oil. Two of the refineries are located at Jalal Abad, close to Caspian's Charvak licence areas.
Consumption within the country is currently some 20,000bbls/day, with only around 1,200bbls/day produced locally.
Infrastructure
More than a dozen airlines service the capital city Bishkek (population approx 900,000), including Aeroflot, British Midlands, China Southern Airways and Turkish Airlines.
A major road links Bishkek with the second city, ancient Osh in the centre of the country. Both Osh and Jalal Abad are linked by air to Bishkek.