Dr. Asif, the owner of a magazine in Pakistan, who works at a major research institute for peace and is the mother of two teenagers, visited Kyrgyzstan for the first time. Although she dreamed of seeing snow in the mountains, her tight schedule did not allow her to leave the city. Nevertheless, Dr. Asif hopes for a return visit to get to know the natural beauty of the country better.
- Your work requires significant experience and understanding of both business and human nature. Several contracts were signed as a result of the forum - this is an excellent outcome.
- Yes, we were able to establish connections between businessmen from Kazakhstan and Pakistan. As you may have noticed, various documents and memoranda of understanding were signed.
- During the two days of the forum, you held meetings, studied documents, and listened to reports. The topic of Kyrgyzstan's aspiration to become a logistics hub was raised multiple times. What lies behind this aspiration? Is the country ready for it?
- For any country to become a logistics hub is a serious challenge. There is a significant need to improve logistics routes. For example, when transporting goods from Pakistan to Central Asia, we face many barriers. Intergovernmental efforts and state support are required here, as businesses cannot solve such problems alone.
The demand from businesses is evident, and it is the state that must respond to this demand.
The forum featured the Prime Minister and around 200 business representatives. The goal of the CAREC business forum is to create a platform for dialogue between the government and business on all relevant issues, including e-commerce, transportation, road quality, and climate change. All these issues require a collaborative approach.
The goal of CAREC is to create conditions for multilateral cooperation between business and governments.
Can the country become a logistics hub? This depends on three key factors: geographical location, political will of the government, and the readiness of the population to accept this role.
- Is a hub more of a node or openness? Which definition more accurately reflects the essence?
- A hub encompasses both railways and highways, container transportation, and many other aspects. It is a complex issue that requires effective operation of internal services and law enforcement agencies. The Prime Minister spoke about Kyrgyzstan's intentions to become a regional logistics hub, but these words must be followed by concrete steps: infrastructure development, improvement of communication and road quality, and ensuring stable electricity supply.
And, most importantly, real actions, determination, and readiness to achieve this ambitious goal are needed.
