Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory (SFIT), a newly established international financial jurisdiction on the shores of Lake Issyk‑Kul in the Kyrgyz Republic, was named the top Rising Star in the Asia‑Pacific region and the second‑best globally in the 2026 Global Free Zones of the Year Awards conducted by fDi Intelligence, the Financial Times’ specialist FDI division. The award recognises the strongest newly created zones based on potential, early investor interest and strategic advantages; judges highlighted Tamchy SFIT’s long‑term strategy for attracting residents across priority sectors and its extensive incentive package, which includes a zero corporate income tax rate for 49 years, zero rates on dividends, capital gains and VAT, unrestricted profit repatriation and 100% foreign ownership.
Established by law in July 2025, Tamchy SFIT was formally inaugurated by President Sadyr Japarov on 3 July 2026, less than a year after its legal creation. The jurisdiction operates under English common law principles, possesses its own financial regulator, an International Dispute Resolution Centre and a single‑window digital registrar. The 6,000‑hectare territory is being developed as an integrated ecosystem combining business, residential and wellness facilities. A Grade‑A business centre is already operational, offering modern office and meeting spaces, and the Issyk‑Kul International Airport lies within walking distance of the business district. Five additional buildings—including a second business centre for residents and two office towers—are slated for completion by the end of 2026.
At launch, the first resident companies registered at Tamchy SFIT originated from Switzerland, South Korea, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates. More than 30 further companies are currently finalising registration, fully benefiting from the digital one‑stop‑shop system. The jurisdiction’s strategic positioning at the intersection of the five EAEU economies and the Eurasian corridor underpins its ambition to host approximately 4,000 resident companies and generate over 10,000 jobs by 2035.
Ayaz Baetov, First Deputy Chairman of Tamchy SFIT’s Management Council, welcomed the award as an international endorsement of the project’s vision, emphasizing the blend of established international legal certainty with the speed, flexibility and digital infrastructure expected by global businesses.