Entrepreneur and former Minister of Agriculture, Food Industry, and Melioration of Kyrgyzstan Tilek Toktogaziev spoke about the reasons for his participation in the B5+1 business forum, as well as the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the country in the context of international cooperation.
In response to a question about the goals of participating in the summit and potential interaction with the United States, Toktogaziev noted that there are two key vectors of cooperation for Kyrgyzstan today. The first is the import of modern technologies, and the second is the export of domestic products. However, according to him, the country cannot supply a wide range of goods across the ocean due to high logistics costs.
As an example, he cited the first-ever export of a batch of garlic from Kyrgyzstan. The transportation alone cost $15,000, not including other expenses. For comparison, the delivery of similar products from China costs about $2,000. The lack of access to the sea and the complex geography effectively block the country, making Kyrgyz products more expensive in foreign markets. Under such conditions, Toktogaziev emphasized, only the export of premium goods can be considered. In his opinion, the country needs to focus on developing unique products in the "luxury" segment.
At the same time, it is important for Kyrgyzstan to adopt foreign technologies. In particular, he mentioned American strawberry seedlings. While Kyrgyzstan harvests an average of 8-9 tons per hectare, in the USA this figure reaches 70-80 tons. Toktogaziev noted that he personally studied this experience in California. According to him, American strawberries are the result of the work of the strongest breeders, distinguished by their ecological purity and disease resistance. In the United States, millions of dollars are invested in science, which ultimately allows for the production of high-quality seeds. He also reminded that the USA exports rice even to Southeast Asian countries.
All these results, in his opinion, are a direct consequence of technological development. Where dozens of workers are involved in Kyrgyzstan, in the USA, one farmer can handle the same volume using modern equipment. Agriculture is structured as a unified system based on science and innovation. Farmers unite into associations and voluntarily make contributions that are directed towards the development of breeding. As a result, initiatives come not from the state, but from the farmers themselves, who consciously invest in quality and efficiency.
In response to a question about the possible lag of Kyrgyzstan and the readiness of the population for changes, Toktogaziev expressed himself firmly. According to him, there is a simple law: either society changes or it disappears. He emphasized that the need to learn quickly and adapt is a law of evolution. All species that could not adapt to new conditions or did so too slowly ultimately disappeared.
Speaking about the practical benefits of the forum, Toktogaziev noted that the main thing Kyrgyzstan gains is opportunity. Whether to take advantage of it or not depends solely on the citizens and the state. He added that in his own projects he tries to seize such opportunities, and in his opinion, the country should act similarly.
According to the entrepreneur, every speech at such venues—whether by a representative of the government, banking sector, or business—should be extremely clear and substantive. Every word should carry an argument and be directed towards a specific result. This is a direct message to international and American businesses. He believes that in just a few minutes of speaking, one can either attract investments and interest in Kyrgyzstan or miss these opportunities.
