There is a new source of ideas for reform in Central Asia. On June 23, 2009 the Central Asian Free Market Institute opened the doors to its new office in Bishkek for a party for over 30 of the institute’s supporters and researchers.

“It is amazing that this group of young professionals has launched such a serious organization with ambitious goals, which are, of course, achievable and necessary,” said Aida Alymbaeva, the chairman of the Social Research Center at the opening.

The leaders of the group set out their goals and strategies, introduced strategic research areas, and announced several key events and campaigns of the Institute.

CAFMI's Opening Party in Bishkek

“We intend to become the leading think-tank for the whole region, by providing constructive options for economic reforms,” said Mirsulzhan Namazaliev, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Institute.

Special guests were Sascha Tamm, the head of Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Moscow, and Emil Umetaliev, CEO of the Kyrgyz Concept company and a board member of CAFMI.

CAFMI will promote free-market reforms by producing relevant, scientifically rigorous, and constructive research and policy proposals.

CAFMI leaders also announced their plans to share with the world the free-market successes of each of the countries in the region to encourage further reforms and to create a spirit of friendly competition in enacting better reforms.

In 2009 Institute plans to hold two “Liberty Camps” for students in the fields of economic and personal freedom. One will be in English, the other in Russian. A “Researchers’ Camp” will be organized to enable Central Asian researchers and experts to present, discuss, and improve their research work, and Bishkek will be host to a regular series of “IdeaNights,” during which young activists, researchers, and reforms will share, discuss, and improve their projects and reform proposals.

CAFMI will launch within days a new website (www.freemarket.kg) and an ambitious campaign (www.freetrade.kg) to create a free-trade region in Central Asia, to facilitate exchange and wealth-creation throughout the countries of Central Asia.

The Institute’s Board of Directors include Emil Umetaliev (CEO of Kyrgyz Concept), Krassen Stanchev (Chairman of the Institute of Market Economics, Bulgaria), Tom G. Palmer (Atlas Economic Research Foundation’s Vice-President), Timur Shaikhutdinov (Free Generation Liberal Youth Alliance’s Co-Chairman), and Seyitbek Usmanov (Institute’s a Co-Founder).

The Central Asian Free Market Institute is headquartered in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. CAFMI directors hope to see establishment of branches in Osh (Kyrgyzstan), Almaty (Kazakhstan), and Dushanbe (Tajikistan) within the next two years.