Bishkek (TDI): Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have taken a major step to strengthen bilateral ties with the first meeting of the Kyrgyz-Tajik Intergovernmental Council, held in Bishkek.
The session, held last week, was attended by Kyrgyzstan’s Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Adylbek Kasymaliev, and Tajikistan’s Prime Minister, Kokhir Rasulzoda.
Kasymaliev opened the meeting by calling 2025 a historic year for relations between the two countries, highlighting the completion of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border delimitation process. He described the agreement as “a decisive factor in reinforcing security and stability, not only for our nations but for the wider region.”
On trade and economic cooperation, Kasymaliev said Kyrgyzstan is prepared to increase exports of meat and dairy products, textiles, coal, glass, and sugar to Tajikistan. Official figures show that bilateral trade reached $36 million in 2025, nearly 24 times higher than in 2024. Both governments aim to boost annual trade to $500 million.
In transport and logistics, Kasymaliev stressed the importance of upgrading border infrastructure and streamlining checkpoints. Proposed measures include modernizing crossings, expanding capacity, building logistics and cargo terminals, and introducing digital solutions in customs administration.
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“Kyrgyzstan is ready to serve as a trade gateway for Tajik goods to the Eurasian Economic Union and to European Union markets under the GSP+ scheme,” Kasymaliev said. He also pointed to the strategic China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, which is expected to strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s role as a regional logistics hub and create additional transit opportunities for Tajikistan.
Tourism cooperation also showed strong growth. In 2025, 86,000 Tajik tourists visited Kyrgyzstan, a twelvefold increase compared to the previous year. Kasymaliev noted interest in exploring joint tourism initiatives, including the possible introduction of a unified visa for travelers visiting multiple Central Asian countries.
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Prime Minister Rasulzoda emphasized Tajikistan’s commitment to good-neighborly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, expressing readiness to deepen the partnership.
During his visit, Rasulzoda toured a newly inaugurated waste-to-energy plant built by a Chinese company. He praised the facility as an example of modern waste management and recycling and expressed Tajikistan’s interest in implementing similar projects in the country.
