Several more hydroelectric plants are in the planning stages at the current time. While not as rich in natural resources as its neighbors, Kyrgyzstan does have significant gold deposits. The most high-profile joint venture in the country to date, between the Kyrgyz Government and the Canadian company Cameco , involves the Kumtor mine , one of the world's 10 largest sources of gold deposits. The gamma telescope that photographed Halley's Comet was manufactured in Kyrgyzstan. Investment and partners from the West are considered most desirable in the development of Kyrgyzstan's microelectronic as well as semiconductor chip production industries.
Tourism is another key industry for development in Kyrgyzstan.
Nestled in the Tien Shen mountains, Kyrgyzstan has an abundance of natural beauty and unspoiled wilderness. Western hotel chains such as Hyatt have begun construction on hotels in the capital, Bishkek, and are expected to begin development on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul in the future. Currently, foreign investors in Kyrgyzstan have legal status equal to that of a Kyrgyz citizen and can buy stocks and securities in Kyrgyz companies and participate in privatization programs. Foreign investors can also repatriate capital, export profits as foreign currency, and convert local currency freely into foreign currency. In the past, foreign investors enjoyed enhanced rights and tax breaks of up to five years in Kyrgyzstan.