Bishkek accounted for almost half of Kyrgyzstan’s export earnings

Bishkek and the Chui Region accounted for almost three-quarters of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign and bilateral trade between January and June. Their combined share amounted to 73.7 per cent of the country’s total trade turnover.

In total, Kyrgyzstan’s trade volume for the first half of the year reached $7,904.7 million, an increase of 1.4 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Bishkek remains the country’s main trading centre. The capital accounted for 62.7 per cent of trade turnover, or $4 billion 957.8 million. However, this figure fell by 2.7 per cent. Bishkek’s share of exports stood at 49.7 per cent, whilst its share of imports was 64.8 per cent.

The Chui Region ranks second, with a share of 11 per cent and a trade turnover of $870.8 million. Over the year, the region’s trade volume fell by 13.4 per cent due to a decline in imports. At the same time, the region accounted for 17.2 per cent of the country’s exports.

Among the other regions, the largest contributions came from:

• Jalal-Abad Region — $338.9 million, or 4.3 per cent;
• the city of Osh — $283.6 million, or 3.6 per cent;
• Issyk-Kul Region — $259.1 million, or 3.3 per cent;
• Osh Region – $171.9 million, or 2.2 per cent;
• Batken Region – $54.5 million, or 0.7 per cent;
• Naryn and Talas Regions – 0.4 per cent each.

Exports also remain concentrated in a few regions. Bishkek, Chui and Jalal-Abad regions accounted for a total of 83 per cent of all exports. Jalal-Abad region accounted for 16.1 per cent of the country’s exports, second only to the capital and Chui region.

The Naryn Region recorded the highest growth rate in trade turnover – a 2.1-fold increase to $32.2 million. However, almost the entire volume consisted of imports. Trade in the Issyk-Kul Region grew by 24.7 per cent, in the city of Osh by 20.8 per cent, and in the Jalal-Abad region by 17.8 per cent.

Transactions by private individuals are recorded separately in the statistics. Their value reached $901 million, an increase of 30.9 per cent. These accounted for a further 11.4 per cent of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign and bilateral trade.