Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are preparing a new route connecting Almaty and Cholpon-Ata.

The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers – Head of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov held the 12th meeting of the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyz Intergovernmental Council in Bishkek, reports inbusiness.kz referencing the press service of the Government of Kazakhstan.

The council addressed issues related to the expansion of trade and economic cooperation within the framework of the agreements reached at the level of the leaders of the two countries. Attention was given to cooperation in transportation and logistics, industry, water resources, energy, and more.

During the meeting, the parties noted a stable positive trend across the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation.

The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for the first nine months of 2024 exceeded $1.2 billion, which is an increase of 1.6% compared to the same period in 2023.

"The Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev places great importance on strengthening the partnership with Kyrgyzstan. This year, relations between our countries have reached a qualitatively new level as a result of signing an agreement on deepening and expanding allied relations between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. We highly value our relations, built on the foundation of friendship, brotherhood, and good neighborliness. The Government of Kazakhstan will make every effort to further develop Kazakhstan-Kyrgyz cooperation," noted Olzhas Bektenov.

The head of the Kyrgyz cabinet Akylbek Japarov also emphasized the importance of further developing cooperation.

"The President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Japarov attaches great importance to strengthening friendly and good-neighborly relations with Kazakhstan. The official visit of our president to the Republic of Kazakhstan in April of this year was historic and opened a new era in Kyrgyz-Kazakh relations. I am confident that the agreement signed this year on deepening and expanding allied relations will open new opportunities for further development of Kyrgyz-Kazakh cooperation and contribute to strengthening the centuries-old fraternal ties between our two nations," said Akylbek Japarov.

The achievement of a joint goal to increase mutual trade to $3 billion by 2030 is supported by the implementation of a project for the construction of an Industrial Trade and Logistics Complex near the road checkpoints "Karasu" and "Ak-Tilek." The complex will become one of the major centers in the region for the consolidation, processing, and distribution of cargo flows. Its launch will enhance production cooperation and the integration of the economies of the two countries. Land plots have been allocated for the construction of the complex, and a regional industrial zone "Alatau" has been established in the Jambyl region.

Issues regarding the implementation of the roadmap for the development of automobile checkpoints at the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyz state border were discussed, which includes the modernization of seven joint checkpoints. The Kazakh side plans to carry out this work through the introduction of modern and automated control and inspection systems. Overall, in the first eight months of 2024, the volume of export-import cargo transportation by road between the two countries increased by 4.1%, totaling 3 million tons. Fiscal services are engaged in constructive joint work to reduce shadow trade and implement bilateral agreements.

Additionally, attention was paid to the initiative "Economic Corridor Almaty – Bishkek," which has become a model of regional cooperation and has initiated a number of studies and projects in the areas of transport connectivity, tourism development, air quality improvement, healthcare, agribusiness, and climate change response.

The parties expressed interest in implementing a project for the construction of the Almaty – Issyk-Kul road. A decision was made to start work on developing the feasibility study for the new route Almaty – Uzynagash – Kastek – Mikhailovka – Cholpon-Ata, which will span 280 km, funded by grants from the Asian Development Bank.

Participants of the intergovernmental council also reviewed plans to strengthen water-energy cooperation. It was noted that the irrigation season of 2024 was successful due to the joint measures taken by the governments, and there was an expressed intention to continue systematic work in this direction.

As a result, several documents were signed, including:

• the final protocol of the 12th meeting of the intergovernmental council;
• a roadmap for increasing mutual supplies of agricultural products;
• a memorandum of cooperation in the field of tourism.

Furthermore, an agreement was reached on the regulation of the rights of ownership of the Republic of Kazakhstan over resort and recreational facilities located in the Issyk-Kul region.