BISHKEK - Kyrgyzstan's initiative to create a unified textile cluster of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states received unanimous support from participants in the SCO Industry Ministers' Meeting, which concluded in Cholpon-Ata, according to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce, 24.kg reports.
The proposal envisages the development of a draft intergovernmental agreement aimed at developing industrial cooperation, expanding textile trade, and strengthening technological cooperation between the organization's member states.
Bakyt Sydykov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan, noted that industrial cooperation within the SCO is reaching a new level and opening up opportunities for joint projects, technology exchange, and the development of logistics infrastructure.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to intensify cooperation between industrial parks and special economic zones, expand the exchange of advanced technologies, and promote the development of environmentally sustainable and resource-efficient production.
The development of the textile and clothing industry is of particular importance for Kyrgyzstan. In the early 2000s, the garment industry became one of the country's economic drivers, providing employment for tens of thousands of people and accounting for a significant portion of exports to the CIS countries.
In subsequent years, the industry maintained a key role in supporting small and medium-sized businesses and creating jobs, particularly for women. Later, neighboring countries, especially Uzbekistan, which produces its own textile materials, began producing high-quality, large-scale garments of its own and replaced Kyrgyzstan as the leading exporter of finished goods. This led to a significant decline in the volume of finished garments produced in Kyrgyzstan and exports.
Today, the republic's authorities view the creation of an international textile cluster as an opportunity to increase the competitiveness of domestic producers, attract investment, and strengthen Kyrgyzstan's position in regional production chains.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 8, 2026