2025
The inaugural founding meeting of the Kyrgyz Agricultural, Science, and Environmental Journalists Association (KAIEJA) was held on March 19, 2025, and its registration certificate was officially issued by the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic on March 27, 2025.
The Association was founded on the personal initiative of journalist Ulan Eshmatov. He is the founder of El Ilim, the first digital popular science magazine in the Kyrgyz language, and has served as its chief editor since 2025. He is also the founder of the El Ilim Public Foundation for the Development of Science Journalism, Communication, and Citizen Science. Ulan Eshmatov is the 2024 laureate of the “Meikin” Award in Media and Journalism, established by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. He received the award for his analytical article, “Green Heritage and the Path to 2050.”
KAIEJA was founded by a team of seven experienced journalists, including its initiator, Ulan Eshmatov, along with Taalaigul Chabdarova, Emilbek Momunov, Mairash Bazlakunova, Shaiyrbek Mukaramov, Zairbek Baktybaev, and Gulzhan Karazhanova.
Ulan Eshmatov was elected as the President of the Association, and journalist Myrzakat Tynaliev was elected as the auditor.
KAIEJA believes its history will continue to grow richer over time, welcoming new members who share the association’s values, goals, and long-term vision.
By the end of 2025, KAIEJA’s membership consisted of 10 full members and 4 associate members.
The Association is also committed to building its history through collaboration with both local and international partners.
On October 15, 2025, KAIEJA was admitted to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) during its congress in Nairobi, Kenya. This milestone made KAIEJA the first professional journalism association from Central Asia to become a member of IFAJ.
KAIEJA was represented at IFAJ’s 2025 World Congress by its President and Chair of the Board, Ulan Eshmatov, and associate member Nurgul Malabaeva. During the congress, Eshmatov delivered an official statement on behalf of the association.
Prior to KAIEJA’s establishment, Eshmatov had already taken part in several IFAJ World Congresses as a freelance journalist, attending the events in Denmark (2022), Canada (2023), and Switzerland (2024).
In 2024, he was also the only journalist from Central Asia accredited to attend the 26th World Congress of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), held in Stockholm.
In 2025, KAIEJA further expanded its international engagement when its President, Ulan Eshmatov, and Secretary-General, Zairbek Baktybaev, initiated professional contacts with the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) and the European Union of Science Journalists’ Associations (EUSJA).
Throughout 2025, informational articles about KAIEJA were published on the official websites of IFAJ and EUSJA.
