Small and medium-sized enterprises of Issyk-Kul region fruit sector strengthen their knowledge on creating food safety management systems

The training was initiated within the framework of a joint project between UNIDO and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic "Strengthening quality and standards compliance capacity of the fruits value chain to facilitate market access" with financial support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. The project is part of UNIDO's Global Quality and Standards Program, which aims to strengthen the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises in quality and adherence to priority production chain standards to support the export competitiveness of developing partner countries. In Kyrgyzstan, the implementation of the project is planned until November 2022. 

During the training, the participants learned the basics of food safety and the conditions for implementing international food safety management systems, including standards based on HACCP principles (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points). Sania Koptseva, trainer and leading consultant on food safety management systems, noted that the successful implementation of food safety management systems will allow Kyrgyz enterprises to reap a number of benefits, including the creation of a documentary base confirming the production of safe food products, the opportunity of certification of the company's management system in compliance with international standards, entering new foreign markets, increasing the level of consumer confidence in products and increasing the company's competitiveness.

"Ensuring food safety is critical not only for improving health and food security but also for the country's economic development," said Aida Duvanaeva, leading specialist of Compliance Assessment Systems and Halal Industry Regulation Department, Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Asylbek Akhmedsharipov, head of the regional development department of the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Issyk-Kul region, emphasized the importance of promoting the competitiveness of export-oriented fruit crops of the Issyk-Kul region. Implementation of the UNIDO's initiative will also ensure the prevention of potential threats to minimize the risk of failure due to non-compliance with technical regulations and control measures.

"Quality management system implementation will improve the management system for all production processes," noted Aydar Zhumaliev, food technologist at Kyrgyzcentrproduct LCC. "Our company is preparing to undergo ISO 22000: 2018 certification. For this purpose, we have developed schemes for the interaction of processes and created a performance assessment system. I am confident that this will increase the competitiveness of the products, stability in the market and the efficiency of the company's business as a whole," he added.

Tursunai Usubalieva, UNIDO National Institutional Liaison Officer, spoke about the priorities and main directions of the Global Quality and Standards Programme in Kyrgyzstan for the period up to 2022. Today, quality and food safety are the key factors in competitiveness in the global food market, she said. The UNIDO program aims to support enterprises in Bishkek, Chui and Issyk-Kul regions to process fruits and berries of the Issyk-Kul region, intending access to external markets.

Compliance with international standards, guidelines and recommendations for safe and guaranteed quality food is a prerequisite for conducting international trade. The project activities aim to build the capacity of beneficiary enterprises and improve their knowledge and skills to comply with the requirements of international standards at all stages of the value chain of target and export-oriented fruit products.

For more details:

Makmal Abylova, UNIDO GQSP Communications Expert, (312) 900545 (office), +996 773 700 344, email: gqsp-kyrgyzstan@unido.org

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