According to the announcement by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (Minister: MOON, Seong-Hyeok), an official development assistance project recently kicked off to help Kyrgyzstan establish a Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Center and build related capacity. The Ministry has proceeded with the project, initiated to mark the official visit of Korea’s Prime Minister to Kyrgyzstan in July 2019, as one of the core tasks for Korea’s New Northern Policy aiming to expand regional cooperation between Korea and Central Asia.

Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked country located in Central Asia, has made efforts to foster aquaculture in the country’s lakes and rivers filled with snow meltwaters flowing from the Tien Shan mountains. In particular, the Issyk-Kul Region, the target region of the project, has major indoor fish farms that raise sturgeon, rainbow trout, and catfish.

Despite such efforts, productivity and distribution of products have remained weak due to the country’s outdated aquacultural facilities and substandard product process and distribution technology. In addition, since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Kyrgyzstan has seen reduced state support for the fishing industry, resulting in slow progress in technology development and expert education.

Given the circumstances, the Kyrgyz government requested technology exchanges and cooperation from Korea to help the country develop its inland aquaculture and increase the productivity of its fisheries products. Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries agreed to engage in an official development assistance project to strengthen cooperation in fishery with Kyrgyzstan. Under the project, the Ministry will invest KRW 5 billion over five years, from 2022 to 2026, to help the country establish a Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Center and develop related capacity.

The project includes plans to renovate outdated fish farm facilities, including the Tonski fish factory in Issyk-Kul, and build aquaculture labs that will educate experts in fish farming as well as processing and distribution of fishery products. The Ministry also plans to share Korea’s aquaculture technology with Kyrgyzstan through personnel exchanges and joint research. The Kyrgyz government expects the project will spur development of the country’s indoor fisheries, and Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Center, once built, will become the hub for the next generation of aquaculture.

Kim Hyun-Tae, the director-general for international cooperation at the Ministry, said that “Korea’s advanced inland aquaculture technology and expertise in fishery product processing and distribution will help Kyrgyzstan increase fishery productivity and build a strong foundation for the industry.” He added that “the Ministry will ensure the project has a positive impact on expanding cooperation in fishery between Korea and Central Asia.”