Ready4Trade Central Asia Project Supports Kyrgyzstan to Reduce Barriers to Trade

(Geneva/Bishkek) – The public sector in Kyrgyzstan discussed further steps to remove regulatory and procedural barriers to trade, based on the results of a survey conducted by the Ready4Trade Central Asia project implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) with the support of the European Union (EU).

The Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Ready4Trade Central Asia project presented the findings of the survey on obstacles to trade in Kyrgyzstan during a round-table discussion held on 28 April 2021. The survey focused on the key regulatory obstacles in relation to three trade flows in the country: export of beans to the European Union, export of dairy to Kazakhstan, import of fresh fruits and vegetables from Tajikistan. 

The survey covered more than 50 companies operating in these three trade flows as well as service providers and official government agencies responsible for the regulation of export and import operations. According to the results of the survey, the key regulatory obstacles for the three trade flows relate to transportation (48% of respondents), finance (61%) and customs procedures (52%).

During a round-table discussion, representatives of the relevant state bodies validated and prioritized the survey findings and provided further recommendations.

Eldar Alisherov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic said: ‘The analysis covered the trade flows of greatest priority to our country. I am confident that this analysis will enable the public authorities to focus on the most relevant trade barriers that should be removed, which in turn will have a positive impact on our export potential, and on the development of regional trade’.

Cosimo Lamberti, Project Manager at the EU Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic said: As the European Union, we are helping boost trade of Kyrgyzstan with its neighbors and Europe. As our own history shows, trade is a powerful tool to boost economies, improve relations amongst nations and bring peace and stability’.

Introducing trade-facilitation measures should have significant positive effects on the Kyrgyz economy by increasing the speed and efficiency of cross-border trade procedures while reducing costs. Ready4Trade supports policymakers in enacting measures to enhance the transparency of cross-border regulatory requirements, remove regulatory and procedural barriers to trade and simplify existing procedures for cross-border trade. The project will also strengthen the capacity of businesses to comply with trade formalities and standards and enhance women’s skills and confidence to engage in international trade.

Kyrgyzstan is one of the five beneficiary countries of the Ready4Trade Central Asia project, funded by the EU, and implemented by ITC. More information: intracen.org/ready4trade/

About ITC - The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

With the project ‘Ready4Trade Central Asia’, the European Union (EU) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) are joining forces to contribute to the overall sustainable and inclusive economic development of Central Asia by boosting intra-regional and international trade in the region. Beneficiaries of the Ready4Trade Central Asia project include governments, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular women led enterprises, and Business Support Organizations (BSOs). The project operates in 5 countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

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More information on the project: intracen.org/Ready4Trade

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Vittorio Cammarota

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E: vcammarota [at] intracen.org (vcammarota[at]intracen[dot]org)