At a recent meeting of the "Ala-Too" parliamentary group, information was presented regarding the state of the textile industry, employment, and the economic situation in the country. The discussion involved both deputies and representatives from the textile sector and relevant government agencies.
Speakers from the textile industry shared their problems, including difficulties in interacting with the Wildberries marketplace, restrictions on access to the Russian market, the need for sales diversification, and the lack of certification laboratories. These factors hinder entry into European markets, resulting in the closure of over 3,000 sewing workshops, leaving many people unemployed. In this regard, they appealed to the government and domestic producers for support.
Deputy Jumabek Salymbekov, while questioning the Minister of Economy and Commerce, clarified the number of closed textile enterprises, emphasizing that production volumes are decreasing and competitiveness is being lost. He inquired about the actions the ministry is taking to address these issues, especially considering Kyrgyzstan's membership in the EAEU.
Minister Bakyt Sydykov responded that work is currently underway to improve interaction with Wildberries.
Deputy Seidbek Atambaev raised the issue of attracting foreign specialists from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan to the textile industry. His colleague Talaybek Masabirov proposed creating a logistics center and considering the provision of preferential loans for textile enterprises. Sydykov added that the Wildberries logistics center is planned to be opened by 2028. Deputy Bolotbek Borbiev noted the necessity of bringing textile production out of the "shadow" economy. Cholpon Esenamanova raised questions regarding import regulations to Russia, labeling, and VAT. Nilufar Alimjanova emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to market diversification for textile products. Azamzhan Jalilov noted that Kyrgyzstan should make the most of all economic opportunities provided by its membership in the EAEU. Azamat Isirailov added that conditions need to be created for the development of domestic producers by addressing transportation logistics and sales issues.
As a result of the discussion, the "Ala-Too" parliamentary group adopted a number of recommendations for the Cabinet of Ministers, including issues related to preferential lending and market diversification.
