The Kyrgyz government is considering new measures to support the flour milling industry, including intensified negotiations with Kazakhstan to ensure stable grain supplies.
Industry representatives, speaking at a meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture, said Kyrgyz flour millers are seeking long-term contracts for the supply of Kazakh grain with fixed volumes and prices. Despite an increase in imports, they noted that enterprises continue to face shortages of raw materials.
According to industry estimates, processing capacity utilization currently stands at around 50%. Millers also pointed to ongoing problems with illegal grain trade at the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border.
The Ministry of Agriculture of Kyrgyzstan said it is conducting negotiations with the Kazakh side, including through diplomatic channels, and expects to secure unimpeded transit of grain and direct deliveries to processing enterprises in the near future.
Authorities also plan to provide preferential financing for the construction of grain storage facilities.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, flour exports to Kyrgyzstan increased 1.8 times over the past seven months, rising from 194,000 to 354,000 tons. Kazakhstan attributes this growth to improved logistics.
At the same time, Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev has said that logistical challenges between the two countries remain unresolved.
He stressed the need to accelerate the digitalization of transport and customs procedures to improve transparency and speed up cargo inspections. He also noted that, in some cases, additional control measures are applied at border crossings, including tax assessments and the confiscation of goods.
