BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, October 26. Kyrgyzstan's trade turnover with member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) increased by 8.6 percent year-on-year from January through July 2023, Trend reports.
Akylbek Japarov, the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, shared this information during an extended meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Bishkek.
He also revealed that in 2022, SCO countries accounted for 79 percent of Kyrgyzstan's total trade turnover, including 79.5 percent in exports and 78.8 percent in imports. Last year, the foreign trade turnover with SCO countries increased by 1.7 times compared to 2021.
Furthermore, it was highlighted that 55 percent of all incoming investments in Kyrgyzstan came from SCO countries in the first half of 2023.
Japarov added that despite the positive growth trend, the trade and economic cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and SCO countries, which holds significant potential, has not been fully realized. This calls for further measures to deepen trade relations.
The meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Bishkek is attended by the Prime Ministers of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the Premier of the State Council of China, the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan, and the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan.
According to the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, the volume of the country’s foreign trade turnover reached $8.153 billion from January through July 2023, which is a 32.3 percent year-on-year increase.