17:20, 11 September 2026, Bishkek – 24.kg news agency
, by Turdubek AIGYROV
For the first time since gaining independence, Kyrgyzstan has printed 20- and 50-som banknotes domestically. The National Bank said this in a statement marking the 35th anniversary of the country’s independence.
For more than 30 years, the national currency was printed abroad.
According to the statement, the National Bank, acting on the president’s instructions, has been working to organize domestic production of banknotes. The first result was the printing of the two denominations.
The statement said domestic production of the national currency was a step toward strengthening Kyrgyzstan’s economic independence.
The National Bank did not specify the number of banknotes printed, where they were produced or when they would enter circulation.
Plans to print the national currency at Uchkun state enterprise have been reported since 2025. In March, President Sadyr Japarov was shown the first samples of banknotes, while in October it was announced that production of 20- and 50-som notes would begin on November 17, 2025.
In April 2026, the company’s management reported that production would be gradually increased. Initially, the plan was to print 20-som banknotes, followed by 50-, 100- and 200-som notes. A full transition to domestic production would allow Kyrgyzstan to stop placing orders abroad and reduce costs.
