Bishkek, 1 March 2024 - The UN Development Program in Kyrgyzstan is launching a project to strengthen the value chain (VAC) of dried fruits, berries, and nuts. The Aid for Trade project will continue to support key players in the value chain of dried fruits, dried berries, and nuts in pilot regions of Kyrgyzstan, including Batken, Jalal-Abad, and Issyk-Kul provinces, aimed at creating new jobs, increasing the competitiveness of the sector and strengthening export potential.

“UNDP is supporting the Government of Kyrgyzstan to harness the potential of trade and value chains to help build economic resilience. By developing value chains, we strive to expand economic opportunities, introduce innovations in production operations, modernize technologies and methods, and integrate small farmers into value-added activities,” says Alexandra Soloviova, UNDP Resident Representative in Kyrgyzstan.

This initiative underscores UNDP's broader mission to promote inclusion and sustainable economic development. By focusing on these green and high-value-added niche products, UNDP aims to not only expand economic opportunity but also make economies more resilient and inclusive. 

The project provides an integrated approach and increases the level of the project's development impact at both the institutional and local levels, providing support to gardeners, forest users, and processing export companies, as well as service operators, including suppliers of inputs, nurseries for growing seedlings, service - garden pruning and processing providers, consulting and logistics companies, financial institutions, horticulture, and forestry support institutions interacting with selected VAC participants. Particular attention will be paid to the inclusion of women and people with disabilities in the project's work and environmental sustainability. 

“Kyrgyzstan has significant potential for increasing the volume of cultivation and export of environmentally friendly dried fruits, dried berries, and nuts due to the available resources and climatic conditions. Through joint efforts, this industry can significantly contribute to expanding economic opportunities and improving the living conditions of people in rural areas,” - Aibek Marazhapov, an expert on dried fruit value chains.

It is expected that the implementation of the project will lead to the creation of at least 100 jobs, with a special focus on employing women in rural areas, and will also increase the capacity of at least 120 farmers and specialists from processing enterprises. 

The project also provides training for beneficiaries to launch their products on e-commerce platforms. The project is aimed at increasing the production volume and yield of project participants by 20% compared to the data for the last 3 years, as well as increasing the volume of sales through online trading platforms from processing enterprises - beneficiaries of the project. 

This initiative is being implemented within the framework of the Aid for Trade in Central Asia project, funded by the Government of Finland and implemented by UNDP in cooperation with Erkin Consult LLC. 

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UNDP is implementing the fifth phase of the regional project “Aid for Trade in Central Asia” (hereinafter referred to as the project), which is funded by the Government of Finland. The project aims to support the Central Asian countries (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) in achieving inclusive and sustainable growth by promoting green value chains and improving the competitiveness of the three countries' economies. The project promotes more resilient, secure, and gender-sensitive economic structures by diversifying the economy and adapting to new market and consumer trends.