Ninety-four percent of Kumtor's nearly 1,600 employees are Kyrgyz nationals.

The Kumtor mine plays a particularly important role in the economic and political life of the Kyrgyz Republic. It is the largest private sector employer of Kyrgyz citizens and is the largest foreign investment in the country. For 2005, its production represented approximately 9.34% of the country's GDP.

At the end of 2005, the operation employed a total of 1,742 permanent employees, of which 1,637 or 94% are Kyrgyz nationals. This represents an increase from 82% at the beginning of the operation as a result of Kumtor's training programs and reflects a policy of employing as many local people as possible in the company's operations.

Sustainability initiatives at Kumtor

Wherever possible the Company purchases local construction materials and agricultural produce. At Kumtor, a Regional Liaison Committee was established to foster positive relations between the mine and communities located close to the operation by allowing them to participate in issues and influence decisions that may affect them. The Committee was established in 1998 and meets twice a year.

Capacity building

Kumtor set aside funds to assist with capacity building projects within the Kyrgyz Republic. Approximately 70% of these funds are allocated to local community initiatives in the Issyk-Kul Province. The main conduit for funding projects is through eight cooperation committees to ensure that financial assistance is focused on projects of importance to local communities. An example is the Local Craftsmen Support Program. Started in 1999, this initiative provides individual craftsmen from the local area with support to improve their skills and the quality of their products through training workshops.

The Company created the Kumtor micro-credit public fund and provides financial support to nine cooperation committees operating in the Issyk-Kul and Naryn provinces, and to the Karakol-based small credit agency. These initiatives serve to provide credit to support smallscale agricultural projects and small businesses. In recognization of the impact of the eventual mine closure on the Issyk-Kul Region, Kumtor has contributed to initiatives to promote tourism and agricultural development on the south side of Issyk-Kul Lake. Through these programs, Kumtor has constructed and funded the operation of a tourist information centre and funded the development of five small-scale kitchens to can and export vegetables and preserves from the region.

National programs are also supported, such as the Altyn Balalyk Children’s Health Centre Project which aims to assist children through educational programs and medical care.