Tobacco products' export makes 5 percent in Kyrgyzstan

Export of tobacco products does not exceed five percent in Kyrgyzstan, Nurlan Koichubakov member of the parliament said Wednesday at the Ak Zhol fraction session.

Kyrgyz tobacco is reportedly uncompetitive at external markets. “Development of tobacco industry is slowing down in Kyrgyzstan. Previously the republic produced about four billion cigarettes and about 65 thousand tons of tobacco a year. Now Reemtsma outputs only 3.5 billion cigarettes and 10-12 thousand tons of tobacco,” Koichubakov said.

Since 1998 the company is the only tobacco manufacturer in Kyrgyzstan. “However, the shareholders have not drawn any dividends within the eight years of the company’s life and collected only 1.5 soms per share in the last three years,” the deputy said.