At the 12th meeting of the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan Intergovernmental Council in Bishkek, discussions focused on expanding trade and economic cooperation. Special attention was given to areas such as transport and logistics, industry, water resources, energy, and others. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektanov, and the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Akylbek Japarov, who also heads the Kyrgyz President's Administration.
The participants highlighted the positive and sustainable dynamics of bilateral cooperation. The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in the first nine months of the year exceeded $1.2 billion, a 1.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
The two sides also discussed the goal of reaching $3 billion in mutual trade by 2030, supported by the construction of an Industrial Trade and Logistics Complex near the “Karasu” and “Ak-Tilek” border checkpoints. This complex is expected to become one of the largest regional centers for consolidating, processing, and distributing freight flows.
Additionally, the roadmap for improving the road checkpoints along the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border was reviewed, which includes the modernization of seven joint checkpoints.
Another key initiative, the “Almaty-Bishkek Economic Corridor,” was praised for its role in regional cooperation, laying the foundation for studies and projects in areas like transport connectivity, tourism development, air quality improvement, healthcare, agribusiness, and climate change response.
Finally, both sides expressed interest in the construction of the “Almaty-Isyk-Kul” road, and it was decided to initiate the development of the technical and economic feasibility of a new route connecting Almaty to Cholpon-Ata. The new route, which will stretch 280 km, will be funded by the Asian Development Bank grants.
CentralasianLIGHT.org,
December 5, 2024