Tamchy SFIT Named Asia-Pacific’s Top Rising Star in fDi’s Global Free Zones of the Year Awards
Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory (SFIT) has ranked first in Asia-Pacific and second globally in the Rising Star category of fDi Intelligence’s Global Free Zones of the Year Awards 2026, becoming the first financial hub from Central Asia to win.
The judging panel highly praised Tamchy SFIT’s long-term strategy for attracting residents across its priority sectors. The judges also highlighted the jurisdiction’s extensive package of business incentives, including a zero corporate income tax rate for 49 years and unrestricted profit repatriation.
fDi Intelligence is a specialist division of the Financial Times focused specifically on foreign direct investment (FDI). Its annual Global Free Zones of the Year Awards is one of the most prestigious international accolades and a benchmark of best business and investment destinations around the world across a number of key categories.
The Rising Star category, in particular, recognises the strongest among newly established zones based both on their potential and on early evidence of investor interest, as well as the strategic advantages for investors.
Ayaz Baetov, First Deputy Chairman of Tamchy SFIT’s Management Council, welcomed the recognition as a significant milestone for the project.
"Being ranked first in Asia-Pacific and second globally so early in Tamchy SFIT’s development is an important international endorsement of our vision. We are creating a next-generation financial jurisdiction that combines the certainty of established international legal practices with the speed, flexibility and digital infrastructure that global businesses increasingly expect”, Baetov said.
Tamchy SFIT went from legislation to functioning in less than a year and was formally inaugurated by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on 3 July 2026. Built from the ground up, the jurisdiction has been designed around legal certainty, regulatory flexibility and digitalisation under a model fit to accommodate a wide range of businesses, from funds, family offices and holding companies to international trading firms, fintech businesses and other innovation-driven enterprises.
The 6,000-hectare territory on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul is being developed as an integrated ecosystem that brings together business, living and wellness. A Grade A business centre is already operational, offering modern office spaces, meeting facilities and a restaurant. Issyk-Kul International Airport is within walking distance of the business district. By the end of the year, five more buildings are expected to be completed: a second business centre for residents, two office buildings and two residential buildings for management company employees.
The first residents which registered at Tamchy SFIT at its launch included companies from Switzerland, South Korea, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates. More than 30 others are currently completing registration, fully benefitting from the digital one-stop-shop system.
