China Gives 200 Million Yuan Grant Aid to Kyrgyzstan

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce has announced that the Chinese government has allocated grant assistance to Kyrgyzstan totaling 200 million yuan (more than $28 million). The money will be used to finance socially significant projects in priority areas. The grant agreement was signed on September 19 in Beijing, following the Intergovernmental Kyrgyz-Chinese Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation meeting held the previous day. Deputy Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, Bakyt Torobaev, headed the Kyrgyz delegation at the meeting. On September 18, Torobaev held meetings with the heads of Chinese companies. During a meeting with Zoomlion, a leading Chinese agricultural machinery manufacturer, the sides discussed supplying agricultural machinery and equipment to Kyrgyzstan and the potential opening of a training center for the assembly of agricultural machinery in Kyrgyzstan. Noting Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to expand the export of agricultural products to China, Torobaev said that work is nearing completion on constructing a warehouse near the Irkeshtam checkpoint on the Kyrgyz-Chinese border. This will increase the volume of cargo transportation from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to China. During a meeting with Jiangnan Delivery (GZ) Food Supply Chain Co., Ltd, a Chinese importer of agricultural products, the parties focused on issues of exchanging experience in the field of e-commerce and a proposal to build a laboratory in Kyrgyzstan that will create opportunities for the unhindered entry of Kyrgyz agricultural products into the Chinese market. According to Chinese statistics, trade turnover between China and Kyrgyzstan amounted to $20 billion in 2023, a 32% increase compared to 2022. Bilateral trade reached almost $11 billion from January to July this year.

Uzbekistan Releases Foreign Trade Data For 2024 So Far

The Statistics Agency of Uzbekistan has presented a report on the country’s foreign trade turnover in January-July 2024. According to the report, during this period, the country's foreign trade turnover (FTT) reached $36.8 billion and increased by $1.9 billion, or 5.3%, compared to January 2023. The volume of exports amounted to $14,786 million, which decreased by 1.1% compared to last year; imports increased by 10.1% and amounted to $22,049 million. Kazakhstan became one of Uzbekistan's largest foreign economic partners after China and Russia during this period. This may be due to a common border, trade in the CIS free trade area, and the recent liberalization of mutual economic relations. Uzbekistan has trade relations with 187 countries worldwide. A significant share of FTT was recorded in the PRC (18.6%), Russia (18.5%), Kazakhstan (6.2%), Turkey (4.6%), and South Korea (3.2%). From January to July 2024, the share of the CIS countries in the foreign trade turnover was 35.3%, which increased by 3.1% compared to the corresponding period of 2023. The total cost of FTT with these countries was $13,020.8 million. Exports reached $4,940.3 million, while imports amounted to $8,080.5 million. Uzbekistan's FTT with the Eurasian Economic Union member states amounted to $9,913.1 million. The export volume reached $3,230.5 million, and the import volume reached $6,682.5 million.