Export

On January 27, 2016, the Regulation of the EU Commission granting the Kyrgyz Republic the status of a GSP+ beneficiary scheme entered into force. The main objective of obtaining this status was to facilitate the promotion of Kyrgyz goods exported to EU countries, strengthen integration into the international trading system, and increase the investment attractiveness of the country and its international image.

GSP+ provides an opportunity to access the market of 27 EU countries with a population of about 450 million people, possessing high purchasing power, under preferential conditions. Customs preferences for 6,200 tariff lines (66% of the entire product nomenclature) granted to Kyrgyz goods under GSP+ lead to significant cost savings by reducing customs duties expenditure.

Furthermore, the scheme enhances the country's investment attractiveness and recognition by expanding preferential target markets and improving the country's image as one that complies with the requirements of international conventions on human rights, labor, and environmental protection.

Tariff lines falling under GSP+ preferences cover a wide range of goods, including, for example, fruits/vegetables, dried fruits, textile products, livestock products, food products, and chemical products. The main items of Kyrgyz export to the EU include beans, honey and beekeeping products, felt products, garments and textile products, mushrooms, medicinal raw materials (shilajit, dietary supplements), apples, natural oils (walnut, almond), dried leguminous vegetables, raw tobacco and tobacco refuse, flower seeds, waste and scrap of non-ferrous metals, as well as hunting trophies.

It should be noted that product standard (quality) requirements remain the same, i.e., GSP+ provides only tariff preferences.

Attached, I am sending you the list of products covered by the GSP+ regime, the European Union regulation governing this regime, as well as the GSP+ brochure.

The EU website where you can check the requirements for imported products (updated Access2Markets portal): https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/

In addition, useful analytical materials on the export of Kyrgyz products to the EU market can be found on the state export portal of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic by following the link: https://export.gov.kg/