Bishkek, April 8, 2026 /Kabar/. Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan Benazir Nurlanova met on Tuesday with Yuka Sonoyama, Senior Deputy Director of the Central Asia and Caucasus Division of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Headquarters.
According to the ministry, during the meeting, the parties discussed the current results of their long-standing partnership and outlined new areas of collaboration within the country's strategic development.
The parties paid special attention to the One Village - One Product project, which has become an example of effective international cooperation and has received recognition and is already being expanded to other countries in the Central Asian and Caucasus regions. The initiative has enabled the establishment of environmentally friendly production that meets international quality standards and significantly expanded the regions' export opportunities.
Benazir Nurlanova noted that 3,500 participants are currently involved in the project across the country, with 107 branded product production workshops in operation. As part of the project, 2,774 types of products have been developed and successfully marketed in Japan, China, Korea, the United States, Germany, the UAE, and other countries.
"The OVOP project is being implemented primarily in the regions and rural areas and contributes to job creation, skills development, and increased incomes for local residents," the report said.
During the meeting, Nurlanova also informed the Japanese delegation about the medium-term National Development Program of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2030, adopted in 2025. The program is based on four key areas: industrialization (including the development of mining and manufacturing); promoting the Kyrgyz Republic as a regional hub for logistics, trade, and finance; developing agriculture and tourism; and developing green energy.
Special attention was also paid to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The deputy minister emphasized the importance of non-financial business support measures. In this regard, an agreement was reached to organize an exchange of experience for domestic manufacturers with leading Japanese companies in the clothing industry.
"It is planned that this initiative will be implemented through the Kyrgyz-Japan Human Development Center (KRJC), which will allow Kyrgyz entrepreneurs to implement advanced Japanese technologies and modern quality management standards," the ministry said. In addition, the parties expressed their willingness to adapt current JICA projects to new national development priorities, including conducting training courses at the regional level to enhance the capacity of local specialists.