Tilek Toktogaziev, an entrepreneur and former Minister of Agriculture, Food Industry, and Melioration of Kyrgyzstan, explained the reasons for his participation in the B5+1 business forum and the opportunities that are opening up for the country.
- Why did you decide to participate in the B5+1 summit? What is your experience of interacting with the USA and what aspects of joint business are you considering?
- For Kyrgyzstan, I see two key areas for cooperation: importing technology from the USA and exporting our products. However, we cannot send many goods due to the high cost of logistics.
At the moment, we have exported a truckload of garlic for the first time, and the delivery alone cost 15 thousand dollars, not including other expenses. For comparison, transporting garlic from China costs only 2 thousand dollars. Our country has no access to the sea, which limits our opportunities and puts our products at a disadvantage. Therefore, we must focus on premium goods and develop unique products in the "luxury" segment.
On the other hand, we are actively importing technology from the USA. For example, strawberry seedlings, which yield 70–80 tons per hectare in America, only yield 8–9 tons here. I visited California, where I studied how they achieve such results. Their strawberries are the result of the work of the best breeders who invest millions in science, creating disease-resistant seeds. For instance, the USA supplies rice even to Southeast Asia thanks to their technologies.
Where we employ dozens of people, one farmer in America manages the process with modern combines. The agricultural system operates as a whole, and farmers understand the importance of science and innovation. They unite in associations and raise funds for breeding development, recognizing the necessity of using quality seeds.
- Are you saying that Kyrgyzstan is significantly lagging behind? Will our people be able to adapt and, as you put it, "quickly get smarter" to utilize their natural resources?
- The principle is simple: either you change, or you disappear! It is necessary to learn and adapt quickly - this is the law of evolution. All species that failed to adapt to new conditions or did so too slowly have become extinct.
- The forum will end, and what do you think Kyrgyzstan will ultimately gain?
- First of all, it’s the opportunities that are opening up. Whether we take advantage of them depends solely on us. I strive to realize these chances in my projects, and the country should do the same.
Presentations by participants, whether they are officials, bankers, or entrepreneurs, must be clear and substantive. Every word should be justified and aimed at achieving a goal. This is a message for American and international business. In five minutes of a presentation, one can either attract investments to Kyrgyzstan or miss all opportunities.
