Ambassador Interviews

Q1A. What are the main directions in the development of relations between India and Kyrgyzstan?

Ans.  India has been connected closely with Central Asia through the Silk Route as far back as the 3rd century BC. The Silk Route connected India with Central Asia not only for goods and wares, but equally importantly was an effective channel of exchange of thoughts, ideas, religion and philosophy. Kyrgyz Republic being en-route has thus been connected with India since centuries.

Following the independence of the Kyrgyz Republic on 31st August, 1991, India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations on 18th March 1992. The resident Mission of India was set up on 23rd May 1994. Since then, we have achieved major milestones in development of bilateral relations between our countries. The year 2022 is being marked as the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Kyrgyz Republic.

Bound by historical and civilizational links, political ties between India and the Kyrgyz Republic have traditionally been warm and friendly characterized by cooperation in several areas. In recent times, India-Kyrgyz relations have expanded in several areas of bilateral engagement, including trade, investment, development cooperation, defence, and security. Both countries also share common concerns on threat of terrorism, extremism and drug–trafficking.

Q1B. What interests India in our country?

Ans.  India is developing its bilateral relations with the Kyrgyz Republic as a country in its extended neighbourhood. Today, India and the Kyrgyz Republic are Strategic Partners. Besides excellent bilateral cooperation, India and the Kyrgyz Republic work closely in the international forums as well. Mutual understanding and similarity of views on international and regional issues, regular high level political interactions have created favorable conditions for further deepening and expanding the entire spectrum of cooperation between the two countries.

The 1st India-Central Asia Summit (ICAS) was held on 27th January 2022 in virtual mode at the initiative of the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi. All the five President of the Central Asian Republics, including President of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Sadyr Zhaparov, participated in the ICAS. A Declaration was adopted at the Summit which has identified multiple areas of cooperation between India and the Kyrgyz Republic. Apart from the India – Central Asia Dialogue mechanism at Foreign Ministers level, the Ministers of Trade and Culture of India and the Kyrgyz Republic would meet at regular intervals to take forward cooperation in these areas. Regular meetings of the Secretaries of the Security Councils to discuss security developments in the region will be taking place.

The current level of trade and investments between India and the Kyrgyz Republic is below its true potential. Both sides will be making concerted efforts to boost trade and investment and have identified various sectors such as medicine, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, information technology, business process outsourcing (BPO), infrastructure, agriculture and processing of agricultural products, energy, space industry, textiles, leather and footwear industry, gems and jewellery, hydropower, hospitality and tourism to have good potential.

Q2. What institutions or NGOs does your country cooperate with, and in what areas?

Ans.  India works closely with the various Ministries and Departments in the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic for further strengthening the bilateral relations and implementation of various projects. We also work closely with several Institutes and Organizations for executing projects in the cultural sector. To name some, these include the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Election Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic, the National Institute of Strategic Studies, the Manas-Chingiz Aitmatov National Academy, the National Library, the National Museum, and the Kyrgyz India Bio-Medical Research Centre.  

Q3.  How do you assess the prospects for cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and India?

Ans.  The 12th round of India-Kyrgyz Republic Foreign Office Consultations were held in Bishkek on 14th November, 2022. During the consultations, both sides undertook a comprehensive review of the bilateral ties and concluded that it was progressing satisfactorily in diverse areas including Political, Economic, Commercial, Defence, Development Partnership, Capacity Building, Education, Consular Matters, Cultural cooperation and Connectivity. Both sides also noted the implementation of several decisions taken during the First India-Central Asia Summit held on 27th January, 2022.

The India-Kyrgyz Republic Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation (IKIGC) held its 10th session in a virtual format on 3rd November, 2022. It was co-Chaired by Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Government of India, and Mr. Talantbek Oruskulovich Imanov, Minister of Digital Development of the Kyrgyz Republic. IKIGC held that there was immense potential for expansion of bilateral trade between India and the Kyrgyz Republic. Emphasis was given to increase the bilateral trade and investment opportunities. India is keen to participate in trade shows and exhibitions in the Kyrgyz Republic and invited the Kyrgyz Republic to take part in trade expos in India. The sides agreed to take necessary measures to increase the interaction of exporters and importers of the two countries and expand the trading basket.

The bilateral trade turnover during January-September 2022 is nearly US$ 93 million and it is likely that this will cross US$ 100 million for the first time. There is thus considerable potential for cooperation between the two countries.  

Q4.  What shortcomings would you note in the development of relations between our countries and how can they be corrected?

Ans. Connectivity has remained one of the biggest challenges for development of trade and commercial ties between India and Kyrgyz Republic. The current level of trade and investment relations between India and Kyrgyzstan is below potential. Greater utilization of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chahbahar Port would be a significant step in the direction of solving logistics issues and would give a fillip to India-Kyrgyz trade relations. Now there are direct flights between the two countries which is expected to further boost tourism and commercial activities between both the sides.

Q5. What can Kyrgyzstan offer India?

Ans. The IKIGC has discussed mutual cooperation and steps to further enhance ties in the fields of Trade & Economy, Development Partnership, Investment, Digitalization, Intellectual Property, Agriculture, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Textiles, Education, Environment, Standardization & Metrology, Banking, Transport, Labour, Mining and Power sectors. Kyrgyz Republic can offer cooperation in all the above fields.  

Q6. What achievements of cooperation would you name?

Ans. Some of the major achievements of bilateral cooperation are the following:

(i) Tele-medicine

Telemedicine Network-I is working successfully at three Hospitals, viz. the National Centre for Cardiology and Internal Medicine, the National Center for Maternity and the Childhood Care and National Centre for Surgery in Bishkek and one Hospital each at Osh (Osh Inter-Oblast Combined Clinical Hospital), Karakol (Issyk-kul Oblast Combined Hospita) & Talas (Talas Oblast Combined Hospital). The Telemedicine Network at the six Hospitals is being actively utilized and is benefiting a large number of Kyrgyz people.  

Gifting of IT equipment

Government of India gifted IT equipment (PCs, Tablets and Notebooks) worth Rs. 27.40 lakhs to Central Election Commission of Kyrgyz Republic for use during the Parliamentary elections.

India Study Centre

An India Study Centre has been established at the National Library in Bishkek. The Center works for the promotion of Indian education and culture and imparts training in English and Hindi languages,Yoga and Kathak dance.

Bhabhatron-II

Two units of Bhabhatron-II equipment and Imaging simulator for treating cancer patients have been gifted to the Kyrgyz Republic. One is already in place and working in Bishkek and another unit is going to be installed at Osh.

KIMBRC

An High Altitude Test Laboratory of the Kyrgyz-Indian Mountain Biomedical Research Centre (KIMBRC) is functional at the Syok Pass at an altitude of 4020 metres. This Project studies the biological responses during the process of acclimatization at high altitude.

Education

More than 15,000 Indian students are pursuing medicine in different Universities in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Line of Credit

During the Second Meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue held on 28 October 2020, India announced a Government of India Line of Credit offer/availability of USD 1 billion for five Central Asian Countries including the Kyrgyz Republic. In addition, India has also made an offer of LOC of US$ 200 million to the Kyrgyz Republic, which was announced in June 2019 during the visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the Kyrgyz Republic. The LOC is for priority developmental projects in the Kyrgyz Republic in fields such as connectivity, energy, IT, healthcare, education, agriculture, etc.   

High Impact Community Development Projects

An MoU on Indian Grant Assistance for implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) in the Kyrgyz Republic was signed in October 2021. This is expected to help in implementation of more projects in the Kyrgyz Republic.

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