Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Aim to Boost Agricultural Trade

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have reached an agreement to create a “green-light corridor” for the export of Kyrgyz agricultural products to Kazakhstan, as well as for the supply of early spring fruits and vegetables from Kyrgyzstan.

The agreement was discussed during an April 25 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 foreign media.

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.