BISHKEK (TCA) — The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Economy Ministry of Kyrgyzstan have signed a protocol for a project to spread the Issyk-Kul model of the One Village One Product (OVOP) movement to other regions in Kyrgyzstan, the ministry said.
The project aims to promote production with the use of local resources, increase the income of rural residents, and assist in the development of Kyrgyzstan’s regions.
One of the results of the OVOP project in the Issyk-Kul province was the establishment and operation of the Issyk-Kul Brand Committee, which assesses promising products, helps OVOP producers to improve the quality of their products, and assists in their marketing.
The project created collective workshops to increase production volumes, expanded supply chains, and increases the number of sales outlets from four in 2012 up to 32 today. The OVOP participants now produce 800 types of products.
Last year the OVOP sales amounted to 12.75 million soms and the figure is 37.48 million soms for the entire period of the project’s operation. The project now involves more than 1,500 villagers, who specialize in handicraft production, production of jams and juices from wild berries and fruit, honey and dairy production.
Work is currently underway to open an OVOP center in Bishkek, which will provide consulting and information services to producers using local raw materials. The center will also help them in branding products, organization of retail sale, and establishing business ties.
