BISHKEK (24.kg News Agency) – Kyrgyzstan intends exporting meat to Saudi Arabia from September, 2012. Recently the Minister of Agriculture and Melioration Askarbek Dzhanybekov who met with this country’s representatives said about this.

Reportedly, the purpose of the visit of Saudi Arabia’s delegation is to review the agricultural sector of the Kyrgyz Republic in order to determine the further cooperation. Kyrgyz officials presented investment projects in the field of animal husbandry. According to the head of the agency, Kyrgyzstan adheres to the principle of “open doors”. “We have developed regulations that improve investment conditions. Preferential tax system is provided for small and medium businesses. Exports are exempt from VAT. Free export of currency is provided as well,” he said.

“To create conditions for livestock exports development the Ministry intends establishing two logistics centres in the northern and southern regions of the country in which meat processing complexes will be built. They are expected to place near the airports of Bishkek and Osh cities. The country has over 9 million hectares of pasture and a favourable environment for the development of animal husbandry. Farmers need investments. Having funds they would be able to develop their farms. This would help increase the republic’s export potential,” Askarbek Dzhanybekov noted.

The Saudi delegation expressed the interest of their country primary in mutton. “Later on, it will be possible to export beef and poultry,” the investor concluded.

It is specified that the parties have agreed on cooperation in the field of sheep breeding and to establish a working group that would work through these issues. Currently, they are visiting livestock farms of the republic.