Alumni Travel Grant: Zalina Enikeeva '16 on integration of the Kyrgyz Republic into the EAEU

Zalina Enikeeva, Alumna of 2016 of the MA in Economic Governance and Development Programme received the 1st Alumni Travel Grant of 2019. Zalina used this grant to participate in the XX April International Academic Conference on Economic and Social Development, held on April 9-12, 2019, in Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE University). The Conference’s Programme Committee was chaired by Professor Evgeny Yasin, HSE University’s Academic Supervisor.

The Annual April Conference features a diverse agenda concerning social and economic development in different countries, e.g. Russia, CIS states, Latin America, China, Europe, United States and etc. The Conference traditionally brings together senior government officials, mostly Russian, including representatives of the Presidential Executive Office, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, high-level experts of the World Bank from all units, the OECD, large national and global companies, and leading academics from all parts of the world.

Zalina participated in two sections, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in the Global Economy and the special section “Next Generation Trade policy” and creation of a future system of multilateral trade regulation for the benefit of social and economic development” with presentations dedicated to integration of the Kyrgyz Republic into the EAEU in agricultural sector and analysis of digitalization of banking system of all five EAEU member-states (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia).

Her analysis of agricultural sector emphasized specifically non-tariff measures, such as technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), technical barriers to trade (TBT), periodic challenges on the Kyrgyz-Kazakh borders which Kyrgyz transporters, farmers, exporters meet and other Kyrgyz-Kazakh cooperation issues. The example of the permanent ban on import and transit of Kyrgyz apples and potato on and through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan imposed by Kazakh government in February 2019 caused the present academic community into surprise that there is such rude violation of the EAEU regulation. Zalina’s presentation engendered a lively discussion of possible measures to assist Kyrgyz farmers, transporters and necessity of finding ways how to solve disputes within the Eurasian Economic Union in cases of its legislation violation.
During her research of digital integration of banking system of five EAEU member-states she analyzed current state programs on digital agenda, payment systems, digital channels, regulation of block chains and crypto currencies in all states, as well as cyber security. Zalina came to conclusion that it is too early to talk about digital integration in banking system as all EAEU member-states are at the different stages of banking system development.

Her presentation and conclusion caused active and interesting discussion among the section attendees, and all assented to the main conclusion and presented analysis.

Academics from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, state authorities from different countries, representatives of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the Eurasian Development Bank, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Center of  Trade Policy under the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and many-many others participated in these two sections. A wide range of experts, representatives of state authorities, academia, research think-tanks and private sector from different countries has allowed establishing timely agenda, share diverse opinions and expertise, take up vital issues.

The most important thing that the present general public was informed on current situation and Kyrgyzstan’s social and economic development, existing challenges during export operations, sanitary and phytosanitary measure, non-tariff barriers etc. From the audience she met keen interest in awareness of current development of the Kyrgyz Republic.

As positive consequence of Zalina’s participation in the conference - she has been invited to be part of the research group on measurement of the EAEU integration depth performed by the Institute of Trade Policy of the National Research University Higher School of Economics and be a representative of the Kyrgyz Republic in this group on a regular basis.

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