Kyrgyz entrepreneurs complain about a shortage of wagons when exporting coal to Uzbekistan

Entrepreneurs from the southern part of Kyrgyzstan who export coal to Uzbekistan complained about the shortage of wagons when delivering coal, Kyrgyz local media said. 

“During the recent visit to the south of the country, we went to 2-3 enterprises in each region,” said the acting Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Artem Novikov at the parliamentary session on December 10.

Deputy Umbetali Kydyraliev said that in the south entrepreneurs who export coal to Uzbekistan complain that there are no railway cars.

“Wagons now cover only 30% of demand. We are an import-dependent state, we must create conditions for the export of goods. In the southern regions, there are only 150 wagons, 50 of which are being repaired. People demand concrete measures because agricultural exports will begin in the spring. What economic growth are we talking about with only 150 operating wagons? We have a Russian-Kyrgyz development fund, why don't we take money from them? Only Russian entrepreneurs take money from the fund” he said.

Artem Novikov replied that a project on the purchase of railway wagons through the fund is under consideration.

“As soon as all conditions are agreed, the project will be started,” Novikov said.