At the B5+1 forum, the most important issue of our time was discussed — economic cooperation among the countries of Central Asia. In an interview with VB.KG, the Secretary of the Investment Council, Uluk Kydyrbaev, noted that this is not just about trade, but about creating deep systemic connections that will help the region transition to a new level of development.
In his opinion, the foundation of success lies in the integration of various resources: technologies, knowledge, production capacities, and capital. While some countries have modern equipment, others can boast unique natural resources, and still others have financial capabilities. The main task is to combine these elements into a single chain.
A key point of this strategy is the transition from raw material exports to the production of goods with high added value. Central Asia must stop being a supplier of cheap resources and start offering the world unique products that meet international quality standards.
Cooperation can manifest in various forms: access to technologies, knowledge, joint production, and financial investments. It is important to understand how to connect these resources.
The market also plays a crucial role in this strategy. When it comes to the market, export must be taken into account. For example, honey, meat, rice, and cotton can be sold as raw materials, but our goal is to produce goods with high added value.
If the price of a kilogram of quality meat is 12–15 dollars, then our task is to learn how to sell it for 50 dollars, but for this, we need to ensure compliance with the highest quality standards. This is only possible with the necessary technologies, knowledge, and proper production processes.
It is important to learn, develop knowledge and skills, and apply technologies correctly. For example, Wagyu marble beef from Japan costs thousands of dollars per kilogram because it is rare and unique. This is an example of how quality and uniqueness create value.
We can find promising directions in various sectors of the economy based on our national, geographical, and climatic conditions. It should be understood that in some areas, such as wheat production, we will not be able to compete with Kazakhstan in volume, but we have our niches.
Learning from each other, especially from neighbors, is extremely important. If we consider Central Asia as a whole and the entire world as a market, cooperation becomes a necessity. Only joint efforts will allow us to create competitive products.
Our goal is not just to export low-quality products, but to develop high-margin goods. Even potatoes should have unique characteristics, for example, being grown at an altitude of over two thousand meters and possessing special quality traits.
An example of a successful niche can be New Zealand honey, which sells for 130–200 dollars for 200 grams due to its unique certification and trust in quality. We are also capable and obliged to create similar products.
First and foremost, we need to work on ourselves: on quality, knowledge, and technologies. The path to creating high-margin products is the direction our region should move towards.
In response to the question of whether countries should act separately or as a single region, I will give a simple analogy: a car needs four wheels that work together, but each performs its own function. If one wheel does not work, the car cannot move. The same goes for our region: joint efforts are necessary while maintaining individual responsibility.
The forum in Bishkek demonstrates the importance of this approach. Even if only 10% of the participants seriously consider these issues, it is already a start. It is through such events that a common understanding and movement forward are formed.
Our region is still not well-known in the world, as even our partners point out. Therefore, it is necessary to intensify efforts to promote the region, hold more forums, and build a systematic dialogue.
Cooperation is not a temporary solution, but a long-term path. If we strive to create our own products and successfully bring them to the international market, there is no other way," concluded Uluk Kydyrbaev.
