Industrial Policy, Sector Selection and Export Markets Strategies. The Case of the Kyrgyz Republic

The article analyzes industrial policy in general and the choice of economic sectors with the best potential for job creation, contribution to GDP and budget revenues. The necessity of implementing industrial policy as the preferred choice and the main strategy for achieving the overall goals of the country's economic development, in contrast to the neoliberal approach of trade openness, is discussed. The economic development of a country requires the transformation of economic activity from low-productivity sectors to high-productivity sectors by targeting selected sectors in which the country has comparative advantages. Changes of this magnitude can be achieved through a targeted, coordinated and consistent long-term industrial policy implemented by the Government. The methodology for selecting potential sectors of the economy, as well as target countries for exports, trade, investments and economic cooperation is presented using the example of Kyrgyzstan. It is concluded that effective industrial policy and the choice of priority sectors of the economy, combined with the choice of strategic economic alliances within the framework of EAEU membership, contribute to the successful development of the Kyrgyz Republic over the past decade.