Problems in the Textile Industry: A Laboratory Needs to be Built in Kyrgyzstan

At the meeting of the "Ala-Too" deputy group, current issues affecting the country's textile industry were discussed. Participants reported that many garment factories are closing or losing orders, leaving workers without means of livelihood. Additionally, cargo is being delayed for extended periods at the border with Russia.

Diloromkan Duyshobaeva, chairwoman of the Association of Kyrgyz Tailors, noted that one of the key problems is a new law introduced by Russia that changed the rules for importing goods. However, the necessary instructions and mechanisms for its implementation have not yet been developed.

“A serious problem is also the lack of a laboratory in Kyrgyzstan to check the quality and safety of goods. We made four trips to China in search of investors and fought for a long time to secure a plot of land for the construction of a laboratory. As a result, we were provided with a 4-hectare plot in the village of Vostok, and it is ready for construction work to begin,” she said.

Duyshobaeva also added that the investor who was willing to invest in the creation of the laboratory ultimately invested in Uzbekistan, as there are no necessary conditions and incentives for investors in Kyrgyzstan that exist in the neighboring country.
The head of the association emphasized that if the laboratory had already been operational, many of the current problems could have been prevented.
“Having a laboratory would allow us to enter the European market, even if the borders with Russia are closed. Given the current situation in Russia, we are considering alternative markets such as Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, but at the same time, the import prices from these countries are significantly lower than from Kyrgyzstan,” she added.

Previously, tailors solved their problems independently and developed the industry, but now they are facing systemic difficulties and need state support.

In the autumn of 2025, it became known that changes in Russian requirements led to serious difficulties for representatives of Kyrgyzstan's textile industry. Issues related to the export of products to Russia were also discussed at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.