Khaidarkan mercury 28 | 29
the Khaidarkan Business Incubator, funded by the EU In order to create alternative livelihoods to primary mer-
has been set up to support such activities. The overall cury mining, a combined approach of industrial and
volume is however still quite low. Another initiative is the small-scale economic activities is probably the most suit-
UN-facilitated Batken regional development programme able. For both, investment by private investors and the
which also has potential to create alternative jobs for government will be required. Areas for engagement will
the Khaidarkan community, especially for women and comprise analysis, refurbishment, market development,
disabled people. It facilitates farmer cooperatives, im- training, and related activities before actual business can
proves agricultural processing capacities and marketing be started. This will require a wide range of support that
of local products. Kyrgyzstan itself will find difficult to provide alone.