Kyrgyzstan's Ambassador to India, Askar Beshimov, highlighted the strong historical and cultural ties between Kyrgyzstan and India, emphasising the growing relationship between the two nations. He expressed Kyrgyzstan's eagerness to encourage Indian investments across various sectors, including agriculture, textiles, hydropower, and pharmaceuticals.

Beshimov noted the cultural affinity between the two countries, citing the popularity of Indian cuisine and films in Kyrgyzstan, as well as the significant presence of Indian students studying in the country.

Furthermore, he mentioned the resumption of regular flights between Bishkek and Delhi, highlighting the ease of travel between the two capitals. Additionally, he mentioned an agreement between the two countries to collaborate on preserving cultural heritage through joint archaeological research.

Addressing recent incidents, Beshimov assured that Kyrgyz authorities are taking strong action against groups involved in provoking unrest, emphasising the Ministry of Internal Affairs' efforts in detaining perpetrators.

Regarding investment opportunities, Beshimov underscored Kyrgyzstan's potential in the agricultural sector, noting the country's ability to produce environmentally friendly agricultural products. He also highlighted the growth of agricultural exports from Kyrgyzstan to India in recent years.

The Ambassador highlighted that Kyrgyzstan's textile and clothing industries are highly developed within the light industry sector. He noted that due to the small domestic market, the country's light industry focuses on exports, with over 90% of products labelled "Made in Kyrgyzstan" being exported to Russia and Kazakhstan. He emphasised the significant potential for further growth in this sector.

Furthermore, the Ambassador mentioned Kyrgyzstan's substantial hydropower potential, estimated at 142 billion kWh per year, of which only 10% is currently utilised. He urged international partners to explore and invest in the country's hydropower resources, particularly considering the global shift towards clean energy sources.

Regarding tourism, the Ambassador highlighted Kyrgyzstan's unique natural attractions, including reserves, biosphere zones, resorts, and recreational facilities. He emphasised the country's potential for ecotourism, mountain tourism, mountaineering, hunting, and other outdoor activities.

Additionally, he noted that Kyrgyzstan offers a visa-free regime for Indians holding visas from the EU, USA, or UK, and highlighted the country's affordability as a benefit for tourists.

Recently, the Kyrgyz government established the state enterprise "Kyrgyzpharmacy". Representatives from this state-owned enterprise have visited India multiple times to establish contacts and secure contracts for direct supplies of pharmaceutical products. The Ambassador expressed confidence that India will soon become one of the primary suppliers of pharmaceutical products for Kyrgyzstan.

However, the Ambassador highlighted the need for direct correspondent relations between Kyrgyz and Indian banks to facilitate successful business transactions. He also noted that despite having 17,000 Indian students and approximately 200 medical tourists from Kyrgyzstan visiting India for medical procedures and recovery annually, they are compelled to carry cash due to the absence of direct correspondent and peer-to-peer relations between banks in the two countries.

Image source: The Economic Times