Feb 26, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. The Kirghiz-Chinese paper factory in Tokmok, a city 60 kilometers east of Bishkek, has resumed operations after standing idle for two years, TCA reported. The factory has only launched a line producing toilet paper, and plans to begin the production of offset paper soon. The Kirghiz government took Chinese loans of CNY 50 million ($6.2 million) for 20 years in 1994 and CNY 100 million ($12.4 million) for 15 years in 1998, for the construction of the paper factory. The factory was completed in 2003, but it has not worked ever since. Soon after the March revolution last year, Chinese specialists left the factory and Kirghizstan. The new minister of industry, trade and tourism, Almazbek Atambayev, has visited the factory several times and helped revive production. Kumash Rysaliyev, the general director of the factory has launched toilet paper production here. There is already a Kirghiz-Kazakh company willing to buy this product. The factory now employs 50 people working in two shifts. In Rysaliyev's words, the factory can produce 30 tonnes of toilet paper a month recycling paper waste. Since it's impossible to get as much paper waste as needed to meet the factory's production capacity, they also plan using cellulose in the future production. "As long as the factory stands half idle, we are ready to launch any kind of business activity here to earn money," said Rysaliyev. "This could be a car service or a joiner's shop. Our main task is to survive. We will also try to reduce our production costs in order to make the production costs more effective. We are currently preparing to launch an offset paper production, which will employ another 100 persons."