Kyrgyz FM meets with representatives of Kazakh and Uzbek companies operating in Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek, Dec. 10, 2020 / Kabar /. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Ruslan Kazakbaev met with representatives of a number of Kazakh and Uzbek companies operating in the Kyrgyz Republic, with the participation of Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Kyrgyz Republic Kairat Nurpeisov and Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the Kyrgyz Republic Ulugbek Abduyaminov. During his speech, Minister Kazakbaev highly appreciated friendly and trusting relations with the closest neighbors - Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. "Comprehensive development of Kyrgyz-Kazakh and Kyrgyz-Uzbek relations, deepening mutually beneficial multifaceted cooperation, as well as strengthening good-neighborly relations meet the long-term priorities of Kyrgyzstan," the minister said. Kazakbaev emphasized that the current 2020 was very difficult for almost all states of the world and expressed gratitude to the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as companies of these countries for their help in eliminating the consequences of the spread of COVID-19. The Kyrgyz minister noted with regret that in connection with the pandemic, there has been a decline in the inflow of foreign direct investment in the Kyrgyz Republic this year. Noting the stabilization of the internal political situation in Kyrgyzstan and the measures taken by the authorities to ensure the safety of employees of foreign companies and the safety of their property, Kazakbaev assured that the Kyrgyz side intends to continue to pursue a policy to improve the conditions for the implementation of investment projects in the Kyrgyz Republic. The meeting participants were also informed about the newly created Department of Economic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic in order to provide maximum assistance to the relevant state bodies of Kyrgyzstan in attracting foreign investments, promoting exports and tourism and other tasks related to economic diplomacy. In this regard, the meeting participants were offered to establish closer contacts with the Department of Economic Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further joint search for solutions to existing problematic issues. A substantive dialogue took place with the business circles of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, during which both problematic issues and a number of proposals were voiced to improve bilateral Kyrgyz-Kazakh and Kyrgyz-Uzbek cooperation in the trade and economic sphere, simplify and optimize the interaction of government agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic with the business community for the implementation of promising areas of bilateral cooperation and development of the economy as a whole. Following the meeting, the participants agreed to continue the practice of organizing such events.