Production of alcoholic beverages and electronic cigarettes will be allowed in the territory of Bishkek Free Economic Zone (FEZ). The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan passed the corresponding amendments to the Law «On Free Economic Zones in Kyrgyzstan» in the second and third readings.
The background statement to the bill says that the companies that were allowed to produce a number of excisable goods, namely alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, were operating in the FEZ even before the introduction of restrictions on the production of these goods and brought a significant income to the national budget.
The Cabinet of Ministers intends to give them permission to continue their activities so that the companies do not leave Kyrgyzstan, since production of these goods is allowed in the FEZs of many countries in the region.
MP Dastan Bekeshev opposed the bill and urged his colleagues to think twice before voting.
In his opinion, it is wrong that only two companies are allowed to produce electronic cigarettes on the territory of the country. If there is a moratorium on the production of e-cigarettes, then it should apply to the whole country, he said. And if not, then production should be allowed for everyone.
MP Daniyar Tolonov explained that these companies were producing e-cigarettes before the moratorium and now they will be allowed to continue their activities to avoid outflow of investment. In addition, these companies are not allowed to sell their products on the domestic market.
Dastan Bekeshev replied that no one will control this. Nevertheless, the bill was adopted in the second and third readings at once.
