In May, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) celebrated its 10th anniversary. Over these years, the volume of mutual trade and the combined GDP of the union have doubled. Trade turnover with third countries has increased by 60%. As noted by the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, while congratulating the citizens of the EAEU member states, the union has become a symbol of stability and a model of mutually beneficial cooperation not only for the participating countries but also for other partners around the world.
Issues related to Kyrgyzstan's participation in the Eurasian integration process were discussed by participants of the round table: "EAEU Anniversary: Outcomes and Prospects for Kyrgyzstan". The discussion was organized by the Center for Expert Initiatives "Oy Ordo".
"In its 10 years of existence, the Eurasian Economic Union has faced not only global economic crises but also unprecedented economic sanctions. As noted on May 8 this year at the anniversary summit of EAEU heads of state, over the years of its activity, the union has established itself as one of the independent and self-sufficient centers of the emerging multipolar world, thereby demonstrating resilience in the face of new challenges. This is also evidenced by the fact that today more and more foreign countries and leading international organizations are paying attention to Eurasian integration. For example, the SCO, CIS, and ASEAN," said Igor Shestakov, director of the "Oy Ordo" CEI.
The expert noted that over the past two years, EAEU countries have been under constant political pressure from Western countries, which threaten Russia's strategic partners in Eurasian integration with secondary sanctions.
"Numerous official visitors from Washington, London, and Brussels to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan—countries that are strategic partners of the Eurasian Union, as well as to Uzbekistan, which has observer status in the EAEU, make generous promises of financial aid in various areas. Primarily, this includes military-technical cooperation and the modernization of the military-industrial complex, investment and energy projects, infrastructure, and other large-scale projects. However, these promises are mostly declarative, unlike the real financial support for numerous NGOs involved in democratic initiatives by Western standards. While the Americans and their allies promise certain bonuses in the form of investment cooperation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan's portfolio mainly consists of loans for the green economy and the implementation of Western technological projects," emphasized I. Shestakov.
Meanwhile, international relations expert Baykadama Kuramaeva noted that the development of the Eurasian association was called into question after the start of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, contrary to the skeptical forecasts and expectations of Western countries, their anti-Russian and anti-Belarusian sanctions did not significantly affect the development dynamics of the Eurasian Economic Union. At the end of 2022, the GDP decline was minimal and was mainly in the Belarus-Russia direction, while the Central Asian republics, on the contrary, achieved growth. For Kyrgyzstan, this indicator was 7.2%.
"This dynamic, against the backdrop of the stability and rapid adaptation of the Russian economy to new realities, confirms not only the prospects for the development of the union but also opens up new opportunities for participants in the context of expanding the range of potential EAEU partners to include ASEAN and African countries. The unified space of the Eurasian association is of interest as a market and transit route for transporting goods from Southeast Asia and China to the CIS and Europe. In the first quarter of 2023 alone, freight traffic along the international transport corridor 'North-South' doubled, reaching 2.3 million tons. This route has proven to be a promising corridor for the Eurasian Union and its foreign partners. At the same time, the activation of Central Asian countries' participation in this project, primarily within the framework of improving its infrastructure, will significantly increase profits under Western sanctions pressure," the speaker emphasized.
In this regard, it is important to note that the participation of countries in the EAEU and SCO allows them to effectively counter the economic diktat of the West and pursue an independent line in international politics without seeking approval from European capitals and Washington. However, certain actions by the Americans and Europeans threaten the process of forming new transport corridors under the aegis of these associations, opening new prospects for the development of the economies of the Eurasian integration countries, including Kyrgyzstan.
According to B. Kuramaev, the trade turnover for 2023 amounted to 7.4 trillion rubles, while at the initial stage it was only 3.5 trillion rubles, indicating a significant movement of goods within the union.
"Mutual trade between member states continues to actively develop. Over the years of Kyrgyzstan's participation in the union, mutual trade with member states has grown by 76% to $4.4 billion. Exports from Kyrgyzstan to EAEU countries have tripled and reached $1.23 billion—excluding gold, 80% of exports are directed to EAEU countries. At the same time, the volume of goods with higher added value in Kyrgyz exports is growing, increasing by 34.8% in 2023. Imports reached $3 billion, showing a growth of more than 50%. These figures reflect the progressive development of cooperation and the deepening of integration ties between our countries," the expert emphasized.
Participants of the discussion also noted that Western countries view the Central Asian countries as high-risk zones for internal political instability, considering the Afghan factor. Meanwhile, membership in the EAEU—a well-established structure—serves as an additional argument for the stability and reliability of each Eurasian Union participant.
Professor and Doctor of Political Science at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, Alikbek Dzhekshenkulov, noted that attempts by third countries to "put spokes in the wheels" of the Eurasian Economic Union are pointless: "Life itself has shown that the EAEU is important for our countries. Especially in conditions where geopolitical confrontation is intensifying and there is a struggle for influence between major powers. When building a multipolar world, it is important for small countries like Kyrgyzstan to be part of associations that promote economic development and ensure security."
The diplomat noted that the figures showing the growth of trade turnover between EAEU participants and with third countries indicate the prospects of the EAEU, demonstrating how the economies of the union's countries are developing.
"Digitalization, the introduction of advanced technologies, and methods of interaction open up great prospects for the development and economic security of our countries. It can be unequivocally said that the EAEU has great potential. I believe that as the economic power and influence of the Eurasian association countries grow, so will the number of countries wishing to join it. The Eurasian Union is not some kind of phantasmagoria, it is a real project that serves the national interests of its participants. Its benefits are felt in everyday life by the population, businesses, and the states themselves. Therefore, there can be no doubts about the prospects of the EAEU," emphasized A. Dzhekshenkulov.
The speaker highlighted that some overseas political scientists and ideologists are trying to impose various opinions regarding Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries' participation in the EAEU, but in the current geopolitical and geo-economic situation, there is no alternative to Eurasian integration not only in the Central Asian region but across the entire Eurasian continent.
"Moreover, I want to emphasize that it is precisely participation in the Eurasian Economic Union that allows Kyrgyzstan to withstand serious economic challenges arising from global processes, due to the complicated world situation, trade wars, sanctions, etc. These challenges come from outside, not from the EAEU, so the answer is unequivocal—there is no alternative to our union today," stated A. Dzhekshenkulov.
He also emphasized that "despite the fact that some foreign ideologists (F. Starr—editor's note) promise us 'golden mountains,' I think our countries today clearly and distinctly understand both their national interests and the geopolitical goals of certain players who are trying to use our countries as a scarecrow."
"When some foreign players suddenly started talking about the prospects of Central Asia, I want to ask them—where have they been for 32 years? Why did they not show any serious interest in our region before, and not implement a single real project in Kyrgyzstan? Therefore, I think we should not succumb to emotions and fall for the 'lures' of foreign countries. We should pragmatically and judiciously conduct our foreign policy and foreign economic activities in accordance with our national interests, which align with the goals and objectives facing the Eurasian Economic Union, SCO, and other regional associations," the diplomat noted.
Source: CEI "Oy Ordo"
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 20, 2024