Kyrgyzstan asks to extend GSP+ status without additional obligations

09:34, 11 сентября 2023, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Tatyana KUDRYAVTSEVA

The 19th meeting of the Kyrgyzstan — European Union Trade and Investment Subcommittee took place in the format of a videoconference. The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan reported.

The parties discussed issues of trade and economic cooperation, including sanitary and phytosanitary measures, as well as the GSP+ scheme.

At the meeting, the Kyrgyz side expressed a request to consider the extension of the status of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+) without additional obligations.

It is noted that the countries of the European Union accounted for 5 percent in the trade turnover of Kyrgyzstan in 2022. Last year, the volume of trade amounted to $603 million and grew by 76 percent, including exports increased by 60.6 percent, imports — by 78.6 percent.

Pharmaceuticals, engineering products, wood, paper, cardboard and products thereof, food products and agricultural raw materials, products from non-metallic materials, products from precious, non-ferrous, ferrous and non-precious metals take the main share in the commodity structure of Kyrgyzstan’s imports from the EU countries.

Vegetables (legumes), dried fruits and various nuts, engineering products, products from non-metallic materials and others take the largest part in the exports to the EU countries.

«The parties noted a great prospect in the development of cooperation and agreed to strengthen interaction in the field of trade by holding consultations and other activities,» the statement says.