Trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan increased by 33.3% from January to May 2026 compared to the same period last year, reaching $440.8 million, Akchabar.kg reported.
At the same time, Kyrgyzstan's exports to Uzbekistan decreased by 18.3% to $104.3 million, while imports of Uzbek products increased by 65.7% to $336.5 million. Thus, imports accounted for approximately 76.4% of bilateral trade, while Kyrgyz exports accounted for 23.6%.
These figures were announced by Kyrgyz Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakyt Sydykov at the Kyrgyz-Uzbek Business Forum in Bishkek, dedicated to industrial cooperation, investment, and trade between the two countries.
The increase in trade turnover was largely due to an increase in the supply of Uzbek products to the Kyrgyz market. This reflects not only expanding consumer demand but also the strengthening of industrial and trade ties between the two economies. At the same time, the decline in Kyrgyz exports highlights a persistent imbalance: trade cooperation is currently developing primarily through imports from Uzbekistan.
This is why the forum's focus on industrial cooperation is of strategic importance. Joint ventures in mechanical engineering, automotive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and heavy industry have the potential to change the structure of trade, as they will allow Kyrgyzstan to increase the production of higher-value-added products. Localization of automotive component production and technology exchange can create sustainable production chains linking enterprises in the two countries.
Prospects are particularly linked to the development of industrial parks, free economic zones, and transport and logistics infrastructure. With improved investment legislation and expanded business support mechanisms, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan can transition from a predominantly trade model to joint production with access to markets in Central Asia and other regions. For Kyrgyzstan, this simultaneously creates an opportunity to reduce the trade imbalance and increase export potential.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
July 29, 2026