Belarus and Kyrgyzstan have invigorated business contacts this year. The activity of the Kyrgyz private sector in Belarus has increased as well. Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Anatoly Sivak made the statement during a session of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, BelTA has learned.
Anatoly Sivak mentioned an increase in interagency contacts and business contacts between the two countries. A Belarusian delegation led by the sports and tourism minister has visited Kyrgyzstan this year. Minsk welcomed a delegation of the Transport and Communications Ministry of Kyrgyzstan. The Minsk branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a business mission of representatives of Belarus’ private sector to Bishkek.
“The number of Belarusian companies taking part in exhibition events and fairs in Kyrgyzstan has increased. The activity of Kyrgyz businesses in Belarus has increased as well. It is noticeable not only because the lineup of delivered goods has expanded but also because the number of trips to Belarus has increased. According to the State Border Committee of Belarus, the number of arrivals from Kyrgyzstan to Belarus exceeded 9,000 in January-May. The figure is nearly as high as the figure registered in the entire pre-pandemic year of 2019,” the deputy prime minister pointed out.
Taking into account an increase in the number of mutual trips, the matter of resuming direct flights between Minsk and Bishkek is becoming important. “It is our yet-untapped potential for increasing the volume of various services, including medical and educational ones. Regular flights between our countries could also resolve the problem of deliveries of early fruits and vegetables to a degree. Belarusian retail chains and the Belarusian food industry need them. At present it takes at least 5 days to deliver freight from Kyrgyzstan to Belarus by road. Since fresh foods do not stay fresh for long, such deliveries from Kyrgyzstan are economically inadvisable. This is something both transporters and exporters of agricultural products should think about,” Anatoly Sivak stressed.
Source : BELTA