Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Akylbek Japarov, convened for the 12th meeting of the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyz Intergovernmental Council in Bishkek. The focus of the discussions was on strengthening trade and economic cooperation, with a particular emphasis on transportation, logistics, industry, water resources, and energy.
The bilateral trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for the first nine months of 2024 surpassed $1.2bn, reflecting a 1.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Bektenov highlighted that Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, is committed to expanding the partnership with Kyrgyzstan.
"Our relations, built on friendship, brotherhood, and good neighborliness, have reached a new level this year, particularly following the signing of the Treaty on deepening and expanding allied relations," Bektenov stated.
Japarov echoed Bektenov's sentiments, noting that President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan has prioritized strengthening relations with Kazakhstan. He described the April 2024 visit of Kyrgyz President Japarov to Kazakhstan as a historic moment that ushered in a new era for the bilateral ties between the two nations.
"The agreement on deepening and expanding allied relations will open new opportunities for further cooperation and strengthen our centuries-old fraternal ties," Japarov remarked.
The meeting also addressed the goal of raising mutual trade to $3bn by 2030. To achieve this, a major project was discussed to build an industrial trade and logistics complex near the Karasu and Ak-Tilek road checkpoints. The complex will serve as a hub for the consolidation, processing, and distribution of cargo flows, strengthening the production cooperation and economic integration between the two countries. Land plots for the complex have been allocated, and the creation of a regional industrial zone, "Alatau," in Zhambyl region is underway.
The participants also reviewed the implementation of a Roadmap for the development of road checkpoints along the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border. This plan includes the modernization of seven joint checkpoints, with Kazakhstan introducing automated inspection systems. In the first eight months of 2024, the volume of export-import cargo transportation between the two countries grew by 4.1%, amounting to 3mn tonnes.
The meeting also highlighted the Economic Corridor Almaty-Bishkek (ECAB), which has become a model for regional cooperation. ECAB has initiated various projects in transport connectivity, tourism, air quality, health, agribusiness, and climate change responses.
Discussions also included plans for the Almaty-Issyk-Kul motorway project, which aims to develop a new 280 km route between Almaty and Cholpan-Ata, funded by the Asian Development Bank. Furthermore, the two sides discussed enhancing water and energy cooperation, with positive outcomes noted from the 2024 irrigation season.
At the conclusion of the meeting, several documents were signed, including the final Protocol of the 12th meeting of the Intergovernmental Council, a Roadmap for increasing agricultural trade, and a Memorandum of Cooperation in tourism development. An agreement was also made to resolve the ownership rights of Kazakhstan’s resort and recreational facilities in the Issyk-Kul region.
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