Kyrgyzstan Looking To Grow Consumable Exports To China
Kyrgyzstan is planning to take advantage of the China consumer market opportunity and is looking at supplying fish, potatoes and beans to the Chinese market. Asgarbek Janybekov, the Kyrgyz Minister of Agriculture has said the Kyrgyz side are looking to meet Chinese compliance standards in order to launch the exports of various products, and the ministry is now in talks with the Chinese side in this regard.
“We are also negotiating the delivery of potatoes and beans to China. In order to start deliveries, certified laboratories are needed, which will conduct certification of products,” Janybekov added.
According to the General Customs Administration of China, the turnover between Kyrgyzstan and China reached a record high in 2022 and amounted to US$15.5 billion. Kyrgyz exports to China have traditionally involved mineral ores, aluminium, precious stones, and some live animal trade, with the agricultural sector not especially well represented.
Urumqi, the largest city in Western China, is relativly close to the Kyrgyz border and has a consumer population of 3.35 million – about 50% of the total population of Kyrgyzstan. With Urumqi’s per capita income about ¥93,000 (about US$13,000) with Kyrgyzstan’s average per capita income about Kyrgyz Som 114,000 (US$1,300) the nearby China markets are potentially lucrative for Kyrgyz farmers and traders.
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