Amirbek Masyraliev's story illustrates how investments in youth entrepreneurship and green economy development advance Kyrgyzstan's national priorities. The Concept "Kyrgyzstan — a Green Economy Country," adopted by the Jogorku Kenesh, and the National Development Programme through 2030 identify waste management and the circular economy as key drivers of sustainable growth. It is in this direction that UNDP, together with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, supports entrepreneurs who contribute to building a greener and more resilient regional economy.

A Treasure Beneath Our Feet

While many see cardboard and plastic as ordinary waste that sits in landfills for years or pollutes the air when burned, Amirbek saw a resource. He started collecting waste.

"In developed countries, waste is considered valuable raw material. I believed that we, too, could create both environmental and economic value from it," he shares. 

He started small: collecting paper and plastic and supplying it to factories. By 2018, the business had expanded, with the first collection points opening in Osh and Bishkek. But Amirbek wanted more,  not simply to resell materials, but to create a product. 

In 2021, his company Eco Green KG, operating under the brand Karton.kg, launched its first production facility. Today, polyethylene film that once littered the streets is processed into granules — ready-to-use raw materials for producing new goods. 

A Technological Leap 

Today, the development of youth entrepreneurship and support for sustainable business solutions are becoming an important part of efforts to strengthen local economies, expand opportunities for young people, and create jobs in the regions of Kyrgyzstan under the National Development Programme 2030. Amirbek’s story demonstrates how entrepreneurial initiatives can simultaneously address both economic and environmental challenges. 

One of the main challenges in the waste management business has always been logistics. Waste materials are bulky, and manually weighing them is time-consuming and difficult. Through the partnership between the Government of the Russian Federation and UNDP, entrepreneurs in Kyrgyzstan gain access to equipment, infrastructure support, and additional opportunities to scale up their businesses and create sustainable sources of income. For Amirbek’s company, this support has become an important milestone in its growth. When the enterprise received modern truck scales, it significantly expanded its production capacity. 

"It was a breakthrough. The truck scales increased our capacity threefold. Previously, it was inconvenient for people to bring us their materials, but now a vehicle simply drives onto the platform, and everything is done in just a few minutes. It saved time both for us and for our suppliers," Amirbek explains. 

The Manas city administration and the Jalal-Abad regional administration see the development of the waste recycling sector as part of broader efforts to improve the urban environment and create new jobs. Amirbek's company is among the first private operators in this segment in the region, opening the way for other entrepreneurs to follow. 

Today, Amirbek’s company employs eight people on a permanent basis. But the impact reaches much further: more than 20 citizens have established regular waste collection activities and supply materials to Karton.kg, generating stable income for their families. 

This impact extends far beyond a single enterprise. Supporting local entrepreneurship contributes to the development of entire economic value chains — from creating jobs and income opportunities to promoting the principles of a circular economy and sustainable resource use. 

This is precisely the type of private green business that the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, together with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, aims to scale across the country: enterprises that simultaneously create jobs, reduce pressure on landfills, and produce new raw materials for industry — closing the loop where once there was only waste. 

Amirbek also shares advice for those who are still working abroad. His main message is simple:  

"Whether you work for yourself or for someone else, do your work with quality. Become the best specialist in your field. A skilled professional will always be valued, and their status will always remain high, wherever they are especially here at home." 

Amirbek’s story is not an isolated example. Youth entrepreneurship is actively developing through the Janyration ("New Generation") network, with financial support from  the Russian Federation and UNDP. Under the initiative, 76 youth business projects have already received support worth USD 312,000, creating around 200 jobs. Another 52 projects are currently under implementation and are expected to create approximately 150 additional jobs with investments totaling USD 442,000. 

For more than three decades, UNDP has served as a strategic partner of the Kyrgyz Republic in advancing national development priorities — working alongside the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, and the Jalal-Abad regional administration to promote the green economy, develop human capital, and expand opportunities for young people. In partnership with the Government of the Russian Federation, UNDP supports the Kyrgyz government in creating conditions where entrepreneurs like Amirbek can build sustainable businesses — for their families, their city, and their country.