OREANDA-NEWS. May 10, 2011. Journalists and experts discussed issues on trade relations between southern Kyrgyzstan and the neighboring countries. The International Business Council (IBC) and the USAID Regional Trade Liberalization and Customs (RTLC) Project held a press cafe at Hyatt Regency Bishkek, reported the press-centre of IBC.

The meeting was attended by Askar Beshimov, Director of the Project for Future Public Foundation; Gulnara Uskenbaeva, President of the Association of Suppliers, Alisher Sanarbek uulu, Executive Director of the Association of Markets,  Tatiana Shtelmakh, Deputy Chairperson of the Dordoi Market Union, and Oleg Samukhin, an economist at the RTLC Project.

Askar Beshimov said that smuggling has increased at the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, while there is a merging of criminals with state structures.

According to Alisher Sanarbek uulu, the growth of smuggling had an enormous impact that the border is still closed by Uzbekistan. There are certain circles that get the benefit in this situation, so they are interested in its continuation. Creating a trade and logistic centers in the framework of the public-private partnership will increase the volume of border trade, said Saparbek uluu Alisher.

Gulnara Uskenbaeva stated that the number of entrepreneurs reduced significantly after the events in June, 2010. The authorities need to convince people to once again take charge of business development.

Oleg Samukhin reported that freight long stands idle at the border with Tajikistan. Samukhin also reported that since May 1, 2011 a decree according to which the goods at the border with China overloaded vehicles on local transportation, has been abolished.