Sellers of Kulun-Ata and Oberon at Orto-Sai market demand a rent reduction.
As Roza Isamidinova, chairperson of the Trade Union of Kulun-Ata market, told 24.kg news agency, the head of the State Committee for National Security, Kamchybek Tashiev, stated that the management of the markets should reduce the rent and create conditions for sellers.
«But our rent was reduced by only 10 percent — that’s 890 soms. In addition, the rental price depends on the dollar exchange rate. But we live in Kyrgyzstan, why do we pay in the foreign currency?» she said.
The sellers added that a 50 percent discount on land rent was provided at Junhai (Dordoi) and the sellers pay 2,400 soms there, and they pay 9,000. «There are those who pay 25,000 and more. It depends on the row, but in stores — 60,000 soms. There is also a rent of containers themselves. But the throughput and revenue in our market and in Dordoi are incommensurable,» the sellers said.
They also noted that conditions have not been created at the market. «Go into our toilet. The smell, the cubicles are not all working,» they added.
The vendors are demanding a 50 percent reduction in rent.
The situation is similar for those working at Oberon market, which is also located at Orto-Sai market.
«We were told that they would reduce the land rent by 10 percent for container owners. But many are rented. They promise that they will force the owners of containers to reduce the rent, but it’s hard to believe. The owners can simply say that if something doesn’t suit us, then we can vacate the containers,» an entrepreneur said.
Sellers ask for a rent reduction of at least 20 percent, as it was originally promised.
Market vendors held rallies across the country at the end of 2023. All entrepreneurs have the same requirements — use of licenses for trade and not to use cash registers.
President Sadyr Japarov met with sellers at Dordoi market. He noted that tax authorities were not ready for innovations. Later, Kamchybek Tashiev said that the state would take away the markets if the owners did not create conditions for traders, including reducing the cost of renting retail space.
