President of the Kyrgyzstan Mr. Almazbek Atambayev, paid official Visit to India from 18-21 December 2016.
Prime Minister Modi and President Atambayev held a fruitful exchange of views in a warm and friendly environment and discussed the full range of issues covering friendly cooperation, bilateral relations, and the regional and international situation.
The Kyrgyz side appreciated India’s role as a partner in development. Both sides took note of projects under implementation as also those in the pipeline in diverse fields including information technology, healthcare, telemedicine, agriculture, biomedical research, training and capacity building, education and culture.
In order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the two leaders agreed to hold a series of events to commemorate this occasion.
The two sides expressed satisfaction with the development of cooperation in the defence sphere, which reflects the high level of mutual trust between the two countries:
They noted that three IT-Centers have been established by India in the last two years at Kyrgyz Military Institutions, and an IT Centre is being upgraded at this time.
The “Khanjar” series of India-Kyrgyzstan military exercises has become an annual event. “Khanjar-II” exercises were held in March 2015 in Kyrgyzstan, “Khanjar III” in March-April 2016 in Gwalior, India. The “Khanjar-IV” exercises are scheduled to be held in Kyrgyzstan in February-March 2017.
The third Joint India-Kyrgyz Army Mountaineering Expedition was conducted in August-September 2016. A joint team comprising 19 officers and soldiers climbed JOGIN-III peak at a height of 6113 metres above sea level in the Central Himalayas in India. Earlier expeditions had scaled the peak of Stock Kangri in Ladakh (September 2011) and Lenin Peak in Kyrgyzstan (3-25 August 2013).
India and Kyrgyzstan are jointly constructing the Kyrgyz-Indian Mountain Training Centre in the city of Balykchi, in Issyk-Kul District of Kyrgyzstan. This Centre will provide instruction and training for personnel of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic as well as host Kyrgyz-Indian joint mountain training exercises.
The Kyrgyz side thanked the Indian side for support and assistance in equipping the Kyrgyz Military Field 2nd Level Hospital for UN Peacekeeping Missions and welcomed the offer of assistance in training.
Economic cooperation
The two sides noted that the current level of trade and investment relations between India and Kyrgyzstan is below the potential available and directed that Ministries and Departments of the two countries are to develop a comprehensive Road-Map in this area for a five-year timeframe. They agreed to explore new mechanisms to further strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved in the field of agriculture envisaging inter alia, University to University cooperation; setting up of a demonstration unit for drip irrigation; and promoting exports of dry fruits, honey and walnuts from the Kyrgyz Republic to India. The Kyrgyz side welcomed the assistance of Indian side in establishing aromatic industry and consultancy in the field of organic farming.
As Member States of the INSTC both sides agreed to work jointly to operationalize cargo movement on the INSTC. Both sides further agreed that the Chahbahar Port in Iran provides the shortest connectivity for Kyrgyzstan to warm waters and to India.
President Atambayev highly praised India’s contribution in setting up a Telemedicine Network in Kyrgyzstan and its expansion to the remaining regions of Kyrgyzstan.
List of Agreements/MOUs Signed:
| MoU | Objective of the Agreement/MoU |
| MoU on cooperation in the field of Tourism between the Ministry of Tourism of India and the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of the Government of Kyrgyz Republic | Exchanging of views and holding of JWGs on expansion and strengthening of cooperation in the field of Tourism. Holding joint programmes for human resource development and promoting safe, honourable and sustainable tourism. Mutually developing tourism as a major engine for economic growth and employment generation and as career opportunities across all segments including low skilled and semi-skilled workers and for economic development of two countries. |
| Agreement on cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Food Industry | The objective of such cooperation is to facilitate sharing of experiences and expertise of each country. Whereas the outcome would be for mutual benefit as well as creation of opportunities for trade in agricultural commodities. India’s strategic interests are also served through such partnerships with other comments. |
| MoU on cooperation in the field of Youth development between Ministry of Youth Affairs and the state agency of Youth Affairs, Physical Education and Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic. | Improve international cooperation through broad interaction between the state authorities responsible for youth affairs at national, regional and other youth organizations. Deepening of mutual understanding between the representatives of the younger generation of both countries and developing programmes for young entrepreneurs. |
| MoU on cooperation between Foreign Service Institute, MEA, New Delhi and Diplomatic Academy of MOFA of Kyrgyz Republic. | Exchange of information on training programmes of diplomats. It shall promote contacts and exchange of students, faculty members and experts in the field of diplomacy. |
| MoU in the field of cooperation in youth exchange between NCC of India and Military Lyceum of Kyrgyz Republic | Aims to have country to country exchange of cadets/youths to participate in youth activities and to create an increased awareness and appreciation of socio-cultural and socio-economic realities prevailing in each other’s countries among the cadets. This MoU shall also pave the way for better understanding and cooperation with the Kyrgyz Government. |
| MoU on cooperation in the field of Broadcasting and exchange of audiovisual programmes between Prasar Bharati of India and Public Broadcast Corporation of Kyrgyz Republic | MoU strives for development and strategy of mutual friendly relations and strengthening of cooperation in the field of broadcasting and exchange programmes in the field of education, science, entertainment, sports and news of common interest. This will facilitate cultural exchange through electronic media and bring people/country together. |
| Bilateral Investment Treaty | To promote investment. |