On January 16, the deputy group "Ala-Too" held a meeting to analyze the situation in the garment industry, employment, and the economy as a whole. Representatives from the sewing sector and government structures attended the meeting and shared current issues facing the industry.
Participants pointed out difficulties in working with the Wildberries marketplace, restrictions on access to the Russian market, the need for sales diversification, and the lack of necessary laboratories and certifications, which hinder entry into European markets. It was noted that more than 3,000 sewing workshops have closed, leaving thousands of people unemployed. In this regard, industry representatives expressed a request for support from the government for domestic producers.
During the discussion, Deputy Jumabek Salymbekov requested information from the Minister of Economy and Commerce about the number of closed sewing enterprises, emphasizing the reduction in production volumes and loss of competitiveness. He inquired about the steps the ministry is taking to address the identified issues, considering that Kyrgyzstan is part of the EAEU.
Minister Bakyt Sydykov confirmed that work is currently underway to improve interaction with the Wildberries marketplace.
Deputy Seyidbek Atambaev emphasized the possibilities of attracting foreign specialists from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan to the sewing sector. Talaybek Masabirov proposed the construction of a logistics center and the introduction of preferential loans for sewing enterprises. Minister Sydykov added that the Wildberries logistics center is planned to open by 2028. Bolotbek Borbieyev expressed the opinion that it is necessary to legalize sewing production to bring it out of the "shadow" economy.
Cholpon Esenamanova raised questions regarding the rules for importing goods into Russia, labeling, and value-added tax. Nilufer Alimjanova emphasized the importance of comprehensive work on market diversification for domestic sewing products. Azamzhan Jalilov noted that Kyrgyzstan should make the most of its economic opportunities within the framework of EAEU membership. Azamat Isirailov added that it is necessary to create conditions for the development of domestic producers by addressing issues with transport logistics and sales channels.
As a result of the discussion, the deputy group "Ala-Too" developed a series of recommendations for the Cabinet of Ministers regarding preferential lending, market diversification, and other issues.
