AKIPRESS.COM - From July through September, 2016, the United States, through the USAID Agro Horizon Project, sponsored a series of business growth events to connect Kyrgyzstani agricultural producers with local and international buyers.

Food processors from Batken, Jalal-Abad, Naryn and Osh regions met with potential buyers during three large forums in Almaty, Bishkek and Osh, and through over 100 smaller meetings. These forums and meeting resulted contracts and agreements that created new economic opportunities for Kyrgyzstan worth $5.4 million.

The events attracted 16 suppliers and 27 buyers from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and other neighboring countries. The parties signed contracts and memoranda of understanding to provide both processed and fresh products, including vegetables, fruits, juice, tomato paste, pickles and sauces, vegetable salads, puree jam, meat and dairy products.

"We were able to sign contracts that we previously had not thought to be possible, and now we’re even preparing our product for export,” said Askar Okenov, Director of the Concept Master LLC, a producer of tomato paste based in Jalal-Abad region.