Belarus creates production of elevators and transformers in Kyrgyzstan. But the outlook is much broader.

December 8, Bishkek. Belarus creates production of elevators and transformers in Kyrgyzstan. Andrey Strachko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Kyrgyzstan, told journalists about this, BelTA has learned.

The diplomat noted that Kyrgyzstan is a traditional partner of Belarus in the Central Asian region. Last year, the trade turnover between the countries reached almost $100 million, and 88% of it consisted of Belarusian exports. In 2022, it can grow by one and a half times.

“This year we are also working quite successfully, EXPORT growth continues. But this year there is still a trend (what we have been striving for for a long time): our export to Kyrgyzstan is still leading in the trade turnover, but deliveries from Kyrgyzstan to Belarus have begun to grow "Kyrgyzstan is our reliable and friendly partner, and we always wanted them not only to sell, but also to increase exports to our country. These are dried fruits, and wool, and their main product is radiators, which we use in our industry", - said the ambassador.

Assembly of elevators and transformers

Today, countries are trying not only to develop trade, but also to create joint products.

"We do not leave the topic of assembly plants, because it is interesting. Kyrgyzstan is located in a logistics hub that allows us to promote our jointly created products to other markets," Andrey Strachko explained.

Belarus and Kyrgyzstan have already identified key areas in this area - the creation of transformer assembly plants together with the MINSK Electrotechnical Plant named after V.I. Kozlov and elevators with Mogilevliftmash.

“There is a huge market here for our elevators and our transformers. Kyrgyzstan seems to be a small country, but all the old Soviet elevators are produced by Mogilevliftmash. In Bishkek alone, we need to change about one and a half thousand elevators. In recent years, we have sold about elevators per year. But today we agreed with the Kyrgyz on joint production. A memorandum was signed with Bishkek, the state order will be placed on elevators. Therefore, we plan that next year it is quite possible to produce up to two hundred elevators. If this is successful, we have a prospect exit from here to Kazakhstan and Tashkent, because they have exactly the same our Belarusian elevators," the ambassador said.

With the help of Belarusian transformers, it is planned not only to update the existing fund, but also to use them to increase the hydropower potential of Kyrgyzstan.

Food and light industry

Kyrgyzstan is also interested in Belarusian MEAT and dairy products. “We have great prospects here. We plan to talk with them about, perhaps, some kind of exemplary agricultural holding, as we have in Belarus, about the supply of our equipment for meat and dairy complexes. To do this, of course, they must solve certain internal tasks. All of their production facilities are small-scale, but we propose that it should still be a large agricultural holding with great opportunities and potential, so that the products are competitive," Andrey Strachko said.

Kyrgyzstan also considers itself a dairy country. They close their market and supply products to Kazakhstan. But production volumes here are still not as large as in Belarus. "They would like to expand the product line as well. To create the same products from MILK as we create," the diplomat added.

Andrei Strachko also recalled that since 2020, two Belarusian stores "Belovezhsky Gostinets" have been operating in Kyrgyzstan, the products of which are very popular with local residents.

"More and more buyers come here, they appreciate our products, despite the fact that they are more expensive in price. The most important thing is that our products got to the local market. Our cheeses, milk , butter and sausages, which praises every Bishkek citizen. We also have a great prospect in food supplies," the ambassador said.

Another profitable topic of bilateral cooperation is light industry. In particular, the Belarusian side is interested in working with local producers of wool, cotton and leather. According to the diplomat, joint production can also be created in this area. In addition, companies can work on direct deliveries.

Infrastructure and transport

Kyrgyzstan is now actively increasing its hydropower capacity. In particular, this year the construction of the Kambarata hydroelectric power station began. As President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov noted in October, upon completion of construction, the state will become an independent, completely self-sufficient country that does not import, but exports electricity.

“We expect that this investment project will be actively developed, and we see here the prospect of increasing the supply of our heavy trucks and other mining equipment. We are very mobile in this regard and want to work with them,” Andrey Strachko said.

The ambassador also added that cooperation in the field of urban transport is also being worked out. Kyrgyzstan is interested in Belarusian electric buses, but their price is still quite high. In this regard, the Belarusian proposal is to create joint production, especially since work has begun on the site of the industrial block of the Eurasian Economic Commission to implement a pilot project of industrial cooperation "Eurasian Electric Bus".

"Kyrgyzstan is interested in our experience, our developments, so the plans here must be big. We must be more aggressive, more active," the HEAD of the Belarusian diplomatic mission stressed.

Another topic that the parties are actively discussing is the participation of Belarus in the design of local infrastructure projects, in particular the railway. This issue was discussed at a recent meeting of a joint intergovernmental commission. "This is a topical issue for them. The country is a member of the SCO and has agreed with CHINA on the construction of the China -Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. We offer both our equipment and our equipment for the production of sleepers and rails," the diplomat explained.