Kyrgyzstan intends to achieve benefits for certain types of goods entering the Customs Union, according to KyrTag, Omurbek Babanov the first vice-premier of the Republic of Kyrgyzskoy. The issue was brought up during the international conference 'The entry into the Customs Union CU: Benefits and Risks"' held in Bishkek on Wednesday.
"We must come to an agreement on the conditions of entering the Customs Union, starting with a period of grace for certain types of goods," Mr Babanov said.
According to Mr Babanov, Kyrgyzstan made the momentous decision to join the Customs Union and Common Economic Space based solely on the need to engage in further development with CU member countries.
"The share of trade with the countries of CU during the number of years is 44 per cent with Russia, then Kazakhstan at 18 per cent and Belarus 1.5 per cent. The volume of exports with these countries by the end of 2010 totalled $715 million in 2010 and if we take the volume with other countries, it was $304 million," Mr Babanov said.
"We need to take all measures to preserve and increase exports with CU countries as hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyzstan citizens are part of these export figures. When you join the organisation the export picture of strategic goods such as the implementation of energy supply without import and export duties and uninterrupted supplies of fuel to the republic of which 90 per cent comes from Russia will improve."
According to him the Customs Union is a mixture of common transport, educational and cultural space, free movement of capital, services and labour, the abolition of the formalities and improving the state borders transition.
"The entry into the Customs Union is a necessity for us. A large number of migrant workers will be able to travel without limits and enjoy the package of CU social services," he added." Kyrgyzstan can then participate in government procurement schemes of the CU member countries after joining the organisation."