At a recent meeting of the "Ala-Too" parliamentary group, representatives of the light industry reported serious problems in their sector. More than 3,000 sewing workshops in the country have ceased operations, leading to mass job losses. Entrepreneurs appealed to the deputies for urgent assistance, highlighting a number of issues that have paralyzed their work. The main factors contributing to the crisis include difficulties in collaborating with large marketplaces and limited access to the Russian market. Additionally, entry into European markets remains challenging due to the lack of international certification and laboratory infrastructure in the country.
Deputy Jumabek Salymbekov noted a significant reduction in production volumes and a decline in the competitiveness of local goods during the discussion, despite the preferences granted under the EAEU. His colleague Seyidbek Atambaev raised questions regarding human resources and the possibility of attracting specialists from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan. The parliamentarians also discussed the need to legalize the sewing business, issues with mandatory labeling of goods for export to Russia, VAT concerns, and the entrepreneurs' need for accessible financing.
Economy Minister Bakyt Sydykov informed the deputies that the ministry is already in negotiations with Wildberries. In particular, there are plans to create a full-fledged logistics center for the marketplace, which is expected to open by 2028. However, businesspeople emphasize that support is needed now to prevent further closures of enterprises.
As a result of the meeting, the "Ala-Too" group sent an official appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan. The government has been tasked with developing effective measures for preferential lending to the light industry in the shortest possible time and proposing strategies for diversifying sales markets to reduce domestic producers' dependence on traditional export destinations.
