Kyrgyzstan's regions have been instructed to identify companies and sites for joint production ventures with Belarus

Cooperation between the regions of Kyrgyzstan and Belarus should take concrete form in the form of joint ventures. Kyrgyz regional authorities have been tasked with working alongside their Belarusian counterparts to identify interested companies, evaluate suitable production sites, and prepare proposals for implementing projects.

This task was set by Erlist Akunbekov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, at the first Kyrgyz-Belarusian Regional Forum, which took place on November 10 in Minsk.

Akunbekov called on regional leaders to maintain the business contacts established at the forum, appoint individuals responsible for follow-up work, and prepare cooperation plans. Each plan must specify timelines and expected results.

“Realizing our existing potential depends largely on your initiative. It is essential to maintain the contacts established during the forum, appoint responsible representatives, and develop cooperation plans with clearly defined timelines and expected results,” he said.

Thus, regional authorities will need to address practical questions: which enterprises are ready to work together, where joint production facilities can be located, and what will be required to launch them. It is precisely these proposals that should form the basis of the Roadmap for Trade and Economic Cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Belarus through 2030.

According to Akunbekov, Kyrgyzstan views interregional partnership as an important area of bilateral relations. The country is implementing state programs for the comprehensive development of regions, taking into account their specific characteristics and economic specializations. The Deputy Prime Minister invited Belarusian enterprises to participate more actively in this work through joint projects.

Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Terekhov also participated in the forum’s opening ceremony. The agreement to hold the meeting was reached during reciprocal official visits by the heads of government of the two countries.

A separate program was organized for delegations from Kyrgyzstan’s regions and cities to familiarize them with the potential of their Belarusian partners. This program allowed them to discuss possible areas of cooperation directly with representatives of the host country. The forum itself is intended to serve as a platform for regular dialogue among regional authorities, businesses, and relevant organizations.

Following the meeting, a number of documents were signed:

• an agreement on cooperation in the trade, economic, scientific, technical, and social spheres;
• a memorandum of understanding;
• an action plan for 2027–2028 to implement the cooperation agreement;
• a roadmap for 2027–2029 in the trade, economic, scientific, technical, cultural, and humanitarian spheres;
• a memorandum on establishing sister-city relations between the cities;
• and a roadmap for 2027–2029 on developing cooperation in the economy, trade, culture, education, and tourism.