Jalal-Abad Region

Jalal-Abad Region hosts the Arslanbob walnut forest—the world's largest natural walnut grove at 11,000 hectares—demonstrating how geological accident creates lasting competitive advantage. Wild walnuts evolved in Central Asia and spread globally from this genetic reservoir, making the region a keystone for global walnut biodiversity. Beyond walnuts, the region received $48.3 million in Chinese investment targeting hydropower development, including the 2024 agreement for the Chandalash small hydroelectric station. This reflects Kyrgyzstan's strategic position: 90% of national electricity comes from hydropower, with major cascade plants on the Naryn River flowing through this region. The Ferghana Valley portion of Jalal-Abad creates ethnic complexity—Uzbek and Kyrgyz populations share territory with contested water and land resources. The 2010 ethnic violence between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in Osh and Jalal-Abad killed hundreds and displaced thousands, demonstrating how resource competition in shared ecological niches can trigger violent conflict. With 37.2% poverty (highest in Kyrgyzstan), the region exports labor to Russia while receiving remittances that sustain consumption without generating local production capacity. The 59 agro-processing enterprises concentrate on fruit drying and nut processing, exploiting the walnut forest's unique genetic heritage.