Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kyrgyzstan and China Aim to Increase Trade

On May 18 in Bishkek, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Akylbek Japarov held talks with Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Liu Guozhong. Emphasizing that China is one of Kyrgyzstan’s main trade and investment partners, Japarov stated that bilateral trade turnover is growing every year and reached $19.8 billion in 2023, an increase of 30% compared to 2022. “But this is not the limit, and the Kyrgyz Republic is ready to jointly make efforts to increase all trade and economic indicators,” he stated. Japarov stressed the importance of the full and uninterrupted functionality of the Torugart and Irkeshtam checkpoints on the Kyrgyz-Chinese border to further increases in trade between the two countries. According to Japarov, the Kyrgyz side is aiming to develop transport and logistics infrastructure, removing restrictions that impede trade exchanges, and creating mutually beneficial conditions. “We would like to expand our capabilities and switch to daily and round-the-clock operation of these border checkpoints. I believe this will also be useful for the Chinese side, as it will allow an even larger volume of cargo and goods to be exported from China to Kyrgyzstan, and on to third countries. We are aiming to increase the throughput capacity of the border checkpoints to 1,000 vehicles per day,” the prime minister said. Kyrgyzstan also expects to sign protocols on new types of agricultural products and simplify procedures for the export of these products from Kyrgyzstan to China. In turn, Vice Premier Liu Guozhong noted the high level of Kyrgyz-Chinese relations and the readiness to further develop and strengthen mutually beneficial and multifaceted cooperation. Guozhong stated that construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is of strategic importance for the entire region and urged that its construction start sooner. He also noted the importance of increasing trade turnover, increasing the capacity at border checkpoints, opening the new Bedel border checkpoint this year, and expanding cooperation in tourism. Guozhong also stated that the Chinese market is open to the import of Kyrgyz agricultural products.

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EU and Partner Banks Upgrade Water Supply in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan

A new water intake facility has been launched in the Cholpon-Ata resort at Kyrgyzstan’s Lake Issyk-Kul thanks to a joint investment of EUR 5.1 million from the European Union, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The opening ceremony on 11 May was attended by the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov. The European Union’s grant of EUR 3.1 million, combined with an EIB and EBRD investment loan of EUR 2.25 million, funded vital improvements to the city’s water supply system which had not been upgraded since it began operating in 1986. According to the EU Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic, by helping eliminate the risk of water-borne diseases, the project has provided over 19,000 citizens of Cholpon-Ata with regular access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. To date, grants exceeding EUR 100 million from the EU have leveraged EUR 205 million investments to support Kyrgyzstan’s drinking water, solid waste management, and energy services, benefitting over 376,000 citizens in 14 cities and eight villages across the country.

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Russian Online Retailer Wildberries to Build Logistics Center in Kyrgyzstan

Wildberries, Russia’s largest online marketplace, is set to build a logistics center spanning 300,000 square meters in the Chui region of northern Kyrgyzstan to service cross-border e-commerce. The initiative was confirmed on 16 May in Kazan, Russia, in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation by Wildberries, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce, and the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Chui region. The large-scale infrastructure project represents an important milestone in trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Kyrgyzstan. As part of its positive impact on the Kyrgyz economy, the ministry says the initiative will help raise employment, and increase the volume of the economically active population through the development and emergence of new small and medium-sized enterprises, contractors, and buyers. Kyrgyzstan is currently home to two other Wildberries centres in Bishkek and Osh servicing some 130 order delivery points across the country. E-commerce is rapidly growing in Kyrgyzstan and to date, over 17,000 Kyrgyz sellers are registered on the Russian marketplace, compared to about 7,000 in 2022.

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Kyrgyz Sugar Farmers Being Ruined By Imports

Favorable weather conditions will allow Kyrgyz farmers to harvest a large beet crop this year. However, this will not stop the flow of imported sugar, as local production capacity covers only 65% of domestic needs. Cheap sugar imported from Russia and Kazakhstan could bankrupt farms. The sugar beet harvest in Kyrgyzstan usually begins in October-November, when processing begins. According to the ministry of agriculture, local farmers do not fully supply sugar beets to processing plants. Therefore, sugar has to be imported from Russia and Kazakhstan, jeopardizing the country's food security. Farmers themselves argue that cheap imports make beet cultivation unprofitable. Today there are about 3,000 beet farms in Kyrgyzstan, but their number is rapidly decreasing as it is becoming increasingly difficult to survive in the market. Nevertheless, the government is trying to rectify the situation by giving farmers 7 billion som ($78.6m) in soft loans. "If we talk about crops, they are not bad now. Only the lazy will be able to spoil the harvest. The weather conditions are excellent this year: there is moisture, not much heat, but enough, and beet is doing well. I think the harvest will be above average this year," Chui region farmer Mirgasym Allakhveranov told The Times of Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan should stop importing sugar from abroad and rely only on its own production, he said. The situation, he thinks, is exacerbated by the actions of resellers who export beets out of the country. "For the farmer it is very good, when they export beets (abroad), it means that the price will increase. But for the population it is not very good, because then the price of sugar rises. There is less sugar in the country and deficit begins. Naturally, traders, who have a special nose for these things, immediately raise prices," Allakhveranov added. According to official data, since the beginning of 2024, Kyrgyz authorities have already imported 10,800 tons of sugar worth $6.4m. The figures show that Kyrgyz stocks of the product are dwindling. Earlier, the ministry of agriculture submitted for public discussion a draft law proposing a ban on sugar exports until early fall. "The population's demand for the year is 145.7 thousand tons, in order to avoid a market price frenzy, as well as taking into account the temporary bans on the export of cane or beet sugar from Russia and Kazakhstan, it is necessary to establish a temporary ban on exports until the new harvest," reads the draft government resolution. To fully supply Kyrgyzstan with granulated sugar, about 20,000 hectares of beets must be planted each year, processing plant owners say. This year, 15,000 hectares were planted despite government subsidies. Farmer Mirgasym Allakhveranov said that in the 1960s, Kyrgyz beet was considered the best in Central Asia. Scientists worked to create a root crop that yielded a good harvest. But the methods they developed no longer exist – farmers buy seeds in Europe that are not always suitable for the local climate. This affects beet yields and leads to a...

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Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia to Revive Bilateral Cooperation

On 15 May, Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim paid an official visit to Bishkek to engage in talks with President Sadyr Japarov. The agenda focused on the current state of the countries’ bilateral cooperation and the potential for further development in sectors including agriculture, tourism, energy, renewable energy sources, mining, infrastructure, information technology, and the halal industry. The meeting concluded with the signing of a ‘Joint Statement on the comprehensive enhancement of cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and Malaysia’, described by President Japarov as a road map for the further development of Kyrgyz-Malaysian relations. At a meeting later in the day with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov emphasized the importance of joint efforts in the implementation of a more comprehensive business partnership between Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia. In this regard, Akylbek Japarov proposed the immediate revival of the Special Kyrgyz-Malaysian Joint Commission, which created in 1997, had proved an effective means of enhancing cooperation between the two countries. In addition, he invited Malaysian investors to collaborate in projects concerning renewable energy sources, mining, the halal industry, and education, as well as exchanging experience in the field of Islamic finance. The two countries also opened negotiations for the introduction of direct flights between Bishkek and Kuala Lumpur. In response to the meeting, the Prime Minister of Malaysia emphasized his readiness to develop and strengthen the high potential of bilateral cooperation across the board. Towards this goal, he spoke of Malaysia’s interest in establishing cooperation in the banking sector and opening a bank in Kyrgyzstan, and with reference to education, said that his government was considering reducing the fees for Kyrgyz students from low-income families wishing to study in his country.

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New Program Lets Kyrgyz Students Study For Diplomas in Germany

Kyrgyz students can now study at vocational schools in Germany, under a new project between the country's ministry of education and a German company, FAV Service gGmbH. As 24.kg reports, referencing the agency's press service, the partnership has been created to train Kyrgyz professionals to work in both countries. Applicants must be citizens of Kyrgyzstan between 18-26 years old, who speak German to at least a "B2" level. Project participants will be provided with a place to study in Germany. During three years of study, students will receive support from German partners in finding housing, help in setting up an account in a German bank, and will receive a stipend from 939 euros per month and medical insurance. After graduation, participants will receive a diploma that is recognized worldwide.