During the B5+1 business forum, former Minister of Agriculture, Food Industry, and Melioration of Kyrgyzstan Tilek Toktogaziev explained his interest in participating and discussed the prospects that lie ahead for the country.
- What are your goals for the B5+1 summit? Do you have experience interacting with the USA, and which areas do you consider the most promising?
- I see two key aspects that can form the basis of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the USA: the import of modern technologies and the export of our products. However, it is important to note that we cannot supply our goods in large volumes due to high logistics costs.
Kyrgyzstan recently exported a truckload of garlic for the first time, but the delivery alone cost $15,000, not including other expenses. In comparison, the delivery of Chinese garlic costs only $2,000. Given that we have no access to the sea, we are effectively isolated, which makes our products less competitive. Therefore, we should focus on producing premium products.
On the other hand, we can import technologies from the USA, such as strawberry seedlings. While in Kyrgyzstan, about 8-9 tons are harvested per hectare, in the USA this figure reaches 70-80 tons. I visited California and studied this issue. There, strawberries are grown using the latest breeding developments and significant investments in science. Did you know that the USA even exports rice to Southeast Asia?
This is all a result of applying modern technologies. If we have an entire team working in the field, in the USA one farmer manages with the help of high-performance combines. Agriculture there functions as a unified system, and farmers recognize the importance of science and innovation. They unite in associations and independently finance the development of breeding, instead of waiting for the ministry to persuade them to use quality seeds.
- Are you saying that Kyrgyzstan is significantly lagging behind? Will our population be able to quickly adapt and utilize its natural resources?
- There is a rule: either you change, or you disappear! It is necessary to adapt and learn quickly — this is the foundation of evolution. All species that could not adapt to new conditions or did so too slowly have disappeared.
- What will Kyrgyzstan gain from the forum?
- The main thing is the opportunity. How we use it depends only on us. I myself try to implement these chances in my projects, and the country should do the same.
Each speech, whether from an official, banker, or businessman, must be clear and convincing. Every word should be justified and aimed at a goal. This is a message for the American and international business community. In five minutes of speaking, you can either attract investments to Kyrgyzstan or miss that chance.
