"Kyrgyzstan's accession to the EAEU has had a favorable impact on our economy"

Kyrgyzstan is interested in the creation of industrial parks with the participation of the Russian Federation and sees opportunities to attract Russian investments in its country, the Central Asian republic's new ambassador to Moscow, Kubanychbek Bokontayev, told Izvestia. Russia is a reliable ally and long-term strategic partner of Bishkek, he said. Trade turnover between the two countries now exceeds $3 billion. However, the diplomat believes our countries have huge unrealised potential. On plans to strengthen cooperation, cooperation within the EAEU, humanitarian projects and the migration issue - in an exclusive interview with Kubanychbek Bokontayev.

"TheRussian Federation is a long-term strategic partner"

- At the end of August you started working in Russia as Ambassador of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. What areas of cooperation between our countries do you intend to focus on?

- First of all, I would like to note with great satisfaction that the Russian Federation is a reliable ally and long-term strategic partner of the Kyrgyz Republic. There is full mutual understanding and support between our countries, allowing us to consistently build up fruitful cooperation based on trust and consideration of each other's interests.

The current agenda of Kyrgyz-Russian relations is very broad and rich, its content is constantly updated, and topical issues in the political, trade and economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres, interaction in the field of security, as well as issues of multilateral cooperation within the framework of international organizations and integration associations of mutual interest are brought to the fore. Accordingly, I intend to focus my work primarily on the issues covered by this agenda.

Trade and economic cooperation is considered the centerpiece of our bilateral ties. As you know, Russia remains one of Kyrgyzstan's leading trade partners, ranking first in terms of exports. In recent years, the trade turnover between our countries has increased significantly and amounted to more than $3 billion a year. This, undoubtedly, large figure is not the limit, we have all the possibilities and huge unrealized potential to increase the volume of bilateral trade many times over in the future.

One of the effective tools for the development of bilateral relations is the activities of the Intergovernmental Kyrgyz-Russian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Humanitarian Cooperation, the 25th meeting of which was held on July 10 this year in Krasnoyarsk. The final protocol of the Commission is traditionally considered the main road map for the parties, and, accordingly, the Embassy will continue to assist in every possible way to the practical implementation of the agreements enshrined in it in all areas, including in the interregional context.

I also intend to focus my work on attracting Russian investment and business to Kyrgyzstan. Our country has great investment potential, especially in the areas of energy, industry, agriculture, mining and tourism. The launch and opening of more than 100 industrial enterprises and social facilities in the Kyrgyz Republic this year, where there are also Russian investments, including mini-hydroelectric power plants, factories producing construction materials, trade and logistics centers, factories producing textiles, schools, kindergartens and medical facilities, is a vivid evidence of this.

In this context, I would like to emphasize the remarkable and steady growth of the economy of the Kyrgyz Republic in recent years. The average GDP growth rate amounted to 7%. In 2023, a historical milestone was overcome - the country's GDP amounted to more than 1.2 trillion soms (about $14 billion), which is significantly higher than in previous years. Thanks to a prudent monetary policy, inflation fell from 14.7% in 2022 to 7.3% in 2023, and as of May 2024, the annual inflation rate was 4.4%.

As a result of fiscal reforms, the state's consolidated budget has doubled over the past three years. It is expected to exceed 660 billion soms by the end of the year. All this has certainly affected the welfare of our citizens, including through a significant increase in wages, economic activity, increased transit and tourist flows, accelerated construction of housing and infrastructure facilities. As a result, it is no exaggeration to say that Kyrgyzstan has become a country on the path of sustainable development and has found its place in the international arena.

Of course, I intend to pay special attention to strengthening cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. This always dynamically developing area of cooperation is of key importance in terms of maintaining ties between the peoples of the two countries. Therefore, maintaining the current level of activity and filling it with new interesting projects is naturally among the priority tasks.

I am pleased to inform you that agreements have been reached with the Russian side on holding the Days of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Russian Federation in October 2024, timed to coincide with the centenary of the formation of the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast. Within their framework, Moscow will host ceremonial events on the historic stage of the Bolshoi Theater, as well as other large-scale events at the city's venues.

And, of course, I cannot fail to note the importance and priority of bilateral cooperation in the migration sphere. Protection of the rights and interests of citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic in Russia, including those who come here to work, and the creation of favorable conditions for their residence is the responsibility of the Embassy. In this regard, I intend to make every effort to promote the issues of improving the legal status and living conditions of my compatriots.

"The geography of flights between Russia and Kyrgyzstan covers the existing demand"

- You have noted humanitarian cooperation. At the same time, last year Vladimir Putin announced the construction of nine Russian-language schools in Kyrgyzstan by 2027. At what stage is this project now? When will the first schools be opened?

- Theemergence of nine Russian-language schools has become the largest joint socially-oriented project of recent years and is very important for our country. Each school has its own construction schedule. Last year, the construction of schools in Bishkek, Batken and Karakol was launched at the highest level. For the remaining schools, which are planned to be built in Osh city, Jalal-Abad, Naryn, Osh, Talas and Chui oblasts of the Kyrgyz Republic, the work is underway in terms of approval of project documentation. It should be noted that the interaction between the authorized bodies of the parties on this project is ongoing and very active.

- Earlier it was reported that Kyrgyzstan and Russia are discussing the creation of an industrial park...

- The issue of creating industrial parks on the territory of our country remains very topical. Quite recently, the new law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Technological Parks" came into force. In this direction, the Kyrgyz side is interested in the potential and experience of the Russian Federation.

In general, this year the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic has noticeably intensified interaction with the Russian side on the issue of creating industrial parks in Kyrgyzstan. These issues, in particular, were discussed during the 5th meeting of the Kyrgyz-Russian Working Group on Industry held in Moscow on July 2.

A special working group was established, which visited the Republic of Tatarstan in July 2024 to familiarize itself with the activities of technological/industrial parks SEZ "Alabuga", KIP "Master", SEZ "Innopolis", "M-7", "Himgrad". After the official delegation from the Republic of Tatarstan paid a return visit to Bishkek. Today, based on the results of the agreements reached, a plan of joint activities, in other words, a road map, is being developed by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation to assess the possibilities of creating industrial and technological parks in our country.

- Earlier it was reported that Kyrgyzstan is preparing to open new regional airports Kazarman, Karavan and Jalal-Abad. Is the launch of flights from Russian cities to these airports being discussed with the Russian Federation?

- Kyrgyzstan prioritizes the construction and reconstruction of airports. The civil airports Kazarman, Karavan and Jalal-Abad were reconstructed this year, and they have the status of regional airports, so they cannot be used as international airports. In addition, there are currently air flights to 15 cities in Russia from Kyrgyz cities. The number of regular flights and the geography of flights between Russia and Kyrgyzstan cover the existing demand.

"Our country intends to further pursue the path of integration in the Eurasian space"

- This year marks nine years since Kyrgyzstan joined the EAEU. Does the republic intend to further strengthen cooperation with the organization?

- Undoubtedly, the accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the EAEU has had a favorable impact on the economy of our country. According to macroeconomic indicators, over nine years, the average annual GDP growth of the Kyrgyz Republic under the Union was 3.9%. In general, nominal GDP in 2023 amounted to more than 1.2 trillion soms and compared to 2015 tripled, budget revenues also tripled and the level of trade turnover with the EAEU countries doubled.

It is of particular importance that the growth was ensured by all sectors of the economy, where there was a significant increase in construction, industrial production, services and agriculture. This year, the trend of economic growth continues, for six months GDP amounted to about 560 billion soms and increased by 8.1% compared to the reporting period of last year.

One of the positive changes was the possibility of access of citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic to the unified labor market of the EAEU. The preferences available within the framework of membership in the association significantly simplified the employment process and created conditions for legal, voluntary and safe labor migration. Another important plus is the recognition of education documents and the possibility for the children of workers to access pre-school and school education on an equal footing with the children of citizens of the host country.

In view of the above, I can confidently say that, on the whole, over these years, under extremely difficult conditions of external factors, the Kyrgyz economy has passed the difficult stage of the adaptation period without shocks and collapses. Our country intends to continue to follow the path of integration in the Eurasian space with the formation of competitive production potential and, in general, to actively participate in the promotion of the integration agenda within the EAEU.