The National Statistical Committee presented the results of the social and economic development of Kyrgyzstan for January-February.
According to the committee, in the first two months of 2017, GDP amounted to almost 52 billion soms. In comparison with 2016, it grew by 5.4%. Without taking into account the enterprises developing Kumtor mine, the indicator is more modest – more than 47 billion soms with a growth of 3.6%.
At the same time, the National Statistical Committee notes that such indicators are connected mainly with the low base of 2016. In the first months of 2016, there was a record fall in GDP – by 10% in January and by more than 8% in February.
The volume of industrial production is estimated at 29.5 billion soms. Compared to 2016, the growth is impressive – 22.9%. But if compared with the indicators of 2015, the picture is not so good. The industry is still in stagnation and in comparison with January-February 2015, the volume of production in the sector decreased by 34.2%.
The growth in industrial production was mainly caused by an increase in the production of metals by 21.9%. Excluding enterprises developing Kumtor, the volume of industrial production was 19.9 billion soms with 23.2% increase compared to 2015.
From the beginning of the year, the inflation rate in the consumer sector was 1.5%. In February, the price increase was 0.%.
Prices for food and non-alcoholic products rose by 2.2%. This was caused by a significant increase in the cost of vegetables – by 23.6%.
Tobacco products (by 12.4%) and services (by 1.9%) also rose in price.
The maximum increase in prices (by 2.8%) was registered in Osh city. Food and non-alcoholic beverages (by 3.6%), non-food products (by 0.9%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco products (by 8%) went up the most there. But the tariffs for services from the beginning of the year increased mostly in Bishkek – by 2.2%.
In January there was a 7.7% decrease in exports in comparison with the first month of 2016. This is connected with 2.3 times reduction in the supply of gold, plastics and plastic products, electric machines and equipment (1.6 times) and tobacco products (1.6 times).
Import grew by 8.7%.
The volume of mutual trade with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union in January amounted to $143.6 million and compared to January 2016 decreased by 7.2%. Export decreased by 6%, and imports increased by 14.1%. Russia and Kazakhstan accounted for the largest share of the republic’s mutual trade with EEU countries (65% and 34.2% respectively). In comparison with 2016, the export of vegetables to the Republic of Kazakhstan decreased 2.3 times.
Russia and Kazakhstan import legumes and dried vegetables (2.6 times growth); dried fruit (an increase of 23%); footwear (up by 1.2%); milk and condensed cream (1.6 times increase).
As for imports, Kyrgyzstan started importing from Russia more dairy products (1.8 times), timber (2 times), ferrous metals (32.8%), and plastic products (22.5%). At the same time, import of vegetable oils (by 44.7%), confectionery products (by 39.4%), soap products (by 49.8%) decreased.
Kazakhstan supplied more confectionery products (2.7 times), paper, cardboard and paper products (2.4 times), soap products (1.8 times). At the same time, the volume of supplies of carbonated mineral water (7.1 times) and vegetable oils (by 48.1%) decreased. (24.kg/Business World Magazine)