Today, on May 16, the vibrant “Village Day 2024” fair has been successfully hosted in the scenic village of Gulcho, marking a milestone in local development and international cooperation. This event was a collaborative effort between the Swiss Bai Alai Program, Alai District State Administration, and Osh Regional State Administration, underlining a robust 30-year partnership between Kyrgyzstan and Switzerland.
The event was favored by the presence of notable guests such as Mr. Dzhaantayev Elchibek (the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Osh oblast); representatives from the Government of Switzerland: Ambassador Arno Wicki (Assistant Director General of the Swiss Development Cooperation SDC), Mr. Martin Saladin (Head of Operations and Deputy Head of Economic Cooperation and Development at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO); Ambassador Olivier Bangerter (the Swiss Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic), and Heads of Alai and Chon Alai district administrations, representatives of state agencies, international organizations, and business community.
Over the past decade, this Swiss-funded Bai Alai program has focused on promoting sustainable economic growth in the Alai and Chon-Alai regions, culminating in today’s celebration of achievements and future prospects. The event showcased the significant strides made in cattle farming, cashmere production, beekeeping, tourism, and crafts, emphasizing the innovative approaches of the program. It has fostered close collaborations among local producers, processors, exporters, and experts, enhancing the quality and competitiveness of local products. As a result, handicrafts from Alai and Chon-Alai are now featured in major urban markets like Osh, Bishkek, and Karakol, and internationally on platforms such as Wildberries, eBay, and Etsy. Notably, the “Chon-Alai Business Women Association” group has successfully exported its crafts to Germany, demonstrating the global appeal of local artisan products.
It has been 10 years since Switzerland started the “Bai Alai” project to increase the number of decent jobs and create new income opportunities for people in the Alai and Chon Alai districts and decrease rural poverty in general. During 10 years, Switzerland has allocated almost CHF 7 million for the benefit of local people. The project was implemented by Helvetas in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation. The Swiss project helped to more than 23’000 people in Alai and Chon Alai to increase their income in such areas as cattle, apiculture, tourism, and handicrafts.
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