Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan See Explosive Trade Growth

The Tajik Customs Service has announced that economic ties between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan saw a dramatic resurgence, with bilateral trade reaching $6.35 million in the first five months of 2025, a more than 15-fold increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Exports from Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan totaled $1.59 million, while imports from Kyrgyzstan reached $4.76 million. By contrast, trade turnover during January-May 2024 stood at just $405,100, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.

Analysts attribute this surge to the gradual restoration of political ties and heightened diplomatic activity ahead of the state visit of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov to Dushanbe, scheduled for July 8-9, at the invitation of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

Trade turnover between the two countries has fluctuated over the past decade, reaching a peak in 2018-2019, when total turnover approached $60 million, with $48 million in Kyrgyz exports and over $14 million in goods from Tajikistan. However, starting in 2020, trade volumes began a steady decline-dropping to $26.2 million in 2021, $15 million in 2022, and $11.4 million in 2023. The figure remained low in 2024, at approximately $11.6 million.

The 2025 rebound is seen as a result of progress in border delimitation talks, the reopening of two key border checkpoints, and the signing of several new intergovernmental agreements aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation.

On June 30, during a visit by Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin to Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic ties and increasing trade volume to $500 million in the coming years. Since the start of 2025, 15 new agreements have been signed, covering border management, political dialogue, and humanitarian cooperation.