On October 9-10, 2023, the seventh meeting of the Central Asian Working Group (CARG) on promotion of agricultural exports of four Central Asian countries as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan was held in Almaty. Domestic producers were proposed to promote Almaty Aport. The main objective of CARG activity is to harmonize approaches to the introduction of international standards of commodity quality and food safety. Among the international standards, a certain role is given to the UNECE commercial standards related to marketing and quality control of agricultural products, which are required by the world markets, as well as standards and food safety system as GLOBALG.A.P..
A key tool for increasing the recognition and identification of regional products, which is promoted through the regional platform, is the legal protection of Geographical Indications (GIs). Aydyn Artykova, Deputy Director of Qazpatent, made a report on the implementation of GIs in national legislation, as well as on the registration status of Almaty Aport. Aydyn Artykova was informed that legal protection of GI is granted in Kazakhstan since 2022, also that Qazpatent has issued a positive opinion on registration and that the designation Almaty Aport is at the stage of registration in the State Registers. At the same time, it should be noted that Tajikistan has nominated Ashtak dried apricot as a product to be promoted; Uzbekistan promotes Khorezm melon, At - Bashi white honey is promoted by Kyrgyzstan.
Representatives of the Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, QazTrade, Metro Cash and Carry and local product manufacturers, as well as national technical groups of the countries also participated in the CARG. Work on obtaining international standards will continue.
