Modern trade relations between Kyrgyzstan and the United States are in the process of seeking new approaches. However, there are several objective difficulties standing in the way of expanding these relations. In an interview with VB.KG, Temir Sariyev, the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, assessed in detail the barriers hindering the influx of American investments and highlighted promising areas where Kyrgyz business has already established itself.
One of the main obstacles to increasing trade turnover is the geographical location of the country. "The most obvious difficulty lies in the complex, lengthy, and expensive logistics. Although at certain times cars were even shipped from the USA to Kyrgyzstan, today electronic commerce partially simplifies these processes. Nevertheless, logistics remains a significant limiting factor," Sariyev noted.
In addition, there is the issue of scale. For large American companies, the market of one small Central Asian republic seems insufficiently attractive. Sariyev believes that the solution lies in regional integration, which would allow representing the interests of countries in a more powerful way.
"American companies are major players that require large volumes. If we look at each country individually, the total population is 7-8 million. However, by combining efforts, we can create a market of about 80 million people, which is already significantly more attractive to investors," he added.
Kyrgyzstan is also interested in having American investors view the republic not just as a source of raw materials. Although mineral resources remain a focus for the USA, Bishkek emphasizes diversification. "The country needs partners willing to invest in infrastructure, such as roads, logistics centers, as well as in manufacturing and the financial sector. Especially in the financial sphere, there is enormous potential related to access to inexpensive credit resources from the USA," Sariyev explained.
"There are many financial opportunities from the USA that are often more accessible and cheaper than in other countries. However, to attract these resources, our banks and financial institutions need to engage more actively and enhance their readiness for cooperation," emphasized the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Nevertheless, the only area where borders and high logistics costs do not play a significant role is the IT sector. Kyrgyzstan is already well integrated into the US economy in this field.
"About 90% of software products developed in our country are exported to the USA. The American market in this regard is very broad and promising, although competition is high. However, with systematic and targeted work, growth opportunities are quite real," summarized Temir Sariyev.
