Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan to Launch 'Green-Light Corridor' for Agricultural Trade

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to establish a “green-light corridor” aimed at facilitating the export of Kyrgyz agricultural products, including early spring fruits and vegetables, to Kazakhstan.

The agreement was discussed during a meeting in Astana between Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, Bakyt Torobayev, and Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, Serik Zhumangarin, The Caspian Post reports, citing The Times of Central Asia.

Kazakh and Kyrgyz officials agreed to jointly determine the list and volumes of agricultural products required by Kazakhstan. Zhumangarin and Torobayev also discussed introducing tariff discounts on rail transportation for Kyrgyz food and agricultural products intended for export and transit through Kazakhstan.

The officials noted the steady growth of Kazakh-Kyrgyz trade, which reached $1.7 billion last year.

Zhumangarin proposed expanding the range of Kazakh goods exported to Kyrgyzstan.

“We are ready to increase the export of Kazakhstani products across 195 commodity items by more than $260 million,” Zhumangarin stated. He also suggested increasing the export of Kazakh grain and oilseeds to Kyrgyzstan.