INDIA-KYRGYZ BILATERAL RELATIONS 1. General. Historically, India has had close contacts with Central Asia, especially countries which were part of the Ancient Silk Route, including Kyrgyzstan. During the Soviet era, India and the then Kyrgyz Republic had limited political, economic and cultural contacts. Since the independence of Kyrgyz Republic on 31st August, 1991, India was among the first to establish diplomatic relations on 18 March 1992; and the resident Mission of India was set up on 23 May 1994. Political Relations 2. Political ties with the Kyrgyz Republic have been traditionally warm and friendly. Kyrgyzstan supported India in securing full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and also supports India’s bid for permanent membership at UNSC. Both countries share common concerns on threat of terrorism, extremism and drug–trafficking. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, the two countries have signed several framework agreements, including on Culture, Trade and Economic Cooperation, Civil Aviation, Investment Promotion and Protection, Avoidance of Double Taxation, Consular Convention etc. President Jeenbekov visited India on a working visit on 30th May 2019 and attended the Swearing in Ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both leaders met and discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and cooperation in the framework international fora. Soon thereafter. PM Modi visited the Kyrgyz Republic to attend SCO Summit and for bilateral visit from 13-14 June 2019. 3. Institutional Consultations. a. Foreign Office Consultations (FOC). 10th India-Kyrgyzstan Foreign Office Consultations were held in Bishkek on 20th April 2019. The Kyrgyz delegation was led by Mr. Nurlan Abdrahmanov, Deputy Foreign Minister and the Indian side was led by Mr. A. Gitesh Sarma, Secretary (West). b. India-Kyrgyzstan Inter-Governmental Commission (IKIGC). The IKIGC on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was set up in 1992. During the 7th session held in New Delhi on 17-18 Mar ’15, a protocol was signed between the two countries. Two MOUs on cooperation in the field of Textiles and Hydropower were signed. 9th IKIGC was held in New Delhi on 15-16 Nov 2018. An eleven member Kyrgyz delegation headed by the Minister of Health participated in the Commission. Indian delegation was led by Secretary (Commerce). Next IKIGC in Bishkek is proposed in 2020. 4. VVIP Visits. a. From India. i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (13-14 June 2019) ii. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (11-12 July 2015). iii. Vice President Krishan Kant (August 1999). iv. Vice President K.R. Narayanan (September 1996). v. Prime Minister Narasimha Rao (September 1995). (b) From Kyrgyzstan. i. President Sooronbay Jeenbekov (30 May 2019) ii. President Almazbek Atambayev (December 2016). President Aksar Akaev visited India four times (March 1992, April 1999, August 2002, and November 2003). iii. Prime Minister Mr. Apas Jumagulov (May, 1997). Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Council of Heads of Government of SCO Member States Summit followed by official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic from 13-14 June 2019. Prime Minister in his intervention at the SCO Summit highlighted initiatives like International North South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port, Ashgabat Agreement and Air Freight Corridor between Kabul and Kandahar and New Delhi. Prime Minister also called for strengthening of cooperation in Health, Economy, Alternate Energy, Literature and Culture, fight against terrorism and humanitarian cooperation. Prime Minister called for international cooperation to combat Terrorism and development of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Prime Minister announced establishment of 24X7 website in Russian language for facilitation of tourists from SCO member countries. Prime Minister and Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov met both in narrow and extended format. 15 agreements/documents including Bilateral Investment Treaty, Protocol amending Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Fiscal Evasion, Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in Health, Information and Communication Technology, defence cooperation were signed. In addition to the above, Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership and a 5 year Road-map for trade and economic cooperation was adopted during the visit. President Jeenbekov and Prime Minister jointly inaugurated India-Kyrgyz Business Forum. In the Joint Declaration it was announced that 2021 will be celebrated as Year of Culture and Friendship between India and Kyrgyz Republic. During the visit, India-Kyrgyz Joint Textile Exhibition was held in Bishkek. Prime Minister also announced that an Indian trade show called ‘Namaskar Eurasia’ will be organised in Bishkek from 9-11 October 2019. Prime Minister also announced a line of credit of US $ 200 million for financing development projects in the Kyrgyz Republic. (c) Ministerial Visits. The recent important visits from India were of Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs, Smt Sushma Swaraj. Shri Rajnath Singh led the Indian delegation for meeting of the Heads of Emergency Departments of the SCO member states on 24-25 August, 2017. Smt Sushma Swaraj visited the Republic on 03-04 Aug 2018, during her three nation tour of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Raksha Mantri, visited Kyrgyzstan from 28-30 April 2019 to attend the Meeting of Defence Ministers of SCO member states. She met her counterparts from China, Russia and Kyrgyzstan on the sidelines of the meeting. EAM visited Bishkek again on 21-22 May 2019 to attend Meeting of Foreign Ministers of SCO member states. Mr. Chingiz Azamatovich Aidarbekov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic visited India on 29th January 2019 and had bilateral meetings with EAM and Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Shiv Prakash Shukla. 5. Assistance by Government of India. Government of India contributed US $ 2 million to Kyrgyzstan for holding SCO Summit in Bishkek in June 2019. IT center at Kyrgyz State University of Construction, Transportation and Architecture, Bishkek; Potato processing plant at Talas; language laboratory at the Diplomatic Academy, Bishkek; tele-medicine links connecting six hospitals in Kyrgyzstan, Bhabhatron-II equipment and Imaging simulator for treating cancer patients are some examples of the technical assistance provided to the Kyrgyz side. 6. ITEC. Technical assistance under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program, particularly in terms of human resources development, is the cornerstone of India’s economic involvement in Kyrgyzstan. More than 1274 professionals from Kyrgyzstan have received training in India since 1992. 80 ITEC slots were sanctioned for 2019-2020.
Commercial Relations
7. India-Kyrgyz Republic bilateral trade during 2018-2019 was US $ 32.60 million. India's exports to the Kyrgyz Republic was US $ 30.02 million , while Kyrgyz exports to India was US $ 2.59 million. Indian exports registered a growth of 8.75% on an year to year basis. Kyrgyz Republic's share in India's total global exports was 0.01%. India's exports to Kyrgyz Republic among others comprise of readymade garments and textile products, pharmaceutical products, agrofood products (tea, coffee and spices),essential oils and cosmetics, perfumery, electric machines, footwear, ferrous and non ferrous metals. Kyrgyz Republic exports to India includes agrofood products(fruits and nuts), raw hides and skins, woolen products etc. There are around 20 Indian companies in the Kyrgyz Republic. There has been increasing interest among Indian entrepreneurs to explore business opportunities with the Kyrgyz Republic in sectors such as mining, agrofood, pharmaceuticals, textiles, gems and jewellery, IT etc. 8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Kyrgyz Republic on an official visit from 13-14, June 2019.15 agreements/documents including Bilateral Investment Treaty, Protocol amending Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Fiscal Evasion, Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in Health, Information and Communication Technology, defence cooperation were signed. The bilateral relations were raised to the level of Strategic Partnership.During the visit Prime Minister also announced a line of credit of US $ 200 million for financing development projects in the Kyrgyz Republic. 9. A 5 year Road-map for Trade and Economic Cooperation was adopted during the visit of Prime Minister Modi in June 2019. Roadmap is aimed at creation of favourable conditions for accelerated growth of bilateral trade , diversification of products and increase in foreign investment. 10. India-Kyrgyz Business forum was held on 14-15 June 2019. Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov and Prime Minister Modi jointly inaugurated India-Kyrgyz Business Forum on 14th June 2019. 150 Kyrgyz participants and 50 participants from India including delegation from FICCI attended the event. Addressing the Business Forum, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the opportunities for investors from India in areas of medicines, textiles, railways, hydropower, mining and minerals and tourism. 11. During the visit, India-Kyrgyz Joint Textile Exhibition was held in Bishkek from 13-26 June 2019. Both sides agreed to explore joint collaborations and cooperations in the fields of textiles, handicrafts, fabrics and arts. 12. Prime Minister Modi also announced that an Indian trade show called 'Namaskar Eurasia' will be organised in Bishkek. Namaskar Eurasia is scheduled from 9-11 October 2019. Cultural Relations 13. In general, there is appreciation of Indian culture. The Centre for Indian Studies set up in Osh State University in 1997 has been useful in providing an exposure to Indian culture and civilization to academicians and intelligentsia in this country. The Chair has been discontinued since 2010 disturbances in Osh. However, in Bishkek, the Mission on its own established an India Study Centre in the prestigious National Library in Bishkek on 14 November 2014. The Center is running with help of volunteers and imparts training in English and Hindi languages, Yoga and Kathak dance. Another center has been opened in Kara Balta city at the distance of 80 km from Bishkek. Numerous kathak, yoga, Indian dance, fusion music, bollywood and historical workshops/concerts have been organised to propagate and popularize Indian culture and tradition. In March 2019, Yoga Caravan, Classical Indian dance and Vegetarian Indian cuisine festival was held in Naryn, Karakol and Bishkek to commemorate 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, in collaboration with ‘Altyn Taj’-India-Kyrgyz Friendship Society.
Consular Affairs
14. There are about 100 Indian nationals apart from 8000 students (estimated) in Kyrgyzstan. Embassy of India granted 2921 visas in 2018. 466 e- TVs were granted in 2018. An Agreement establishing visa free regime for diplomatic and/or official/service passports was signed on 19 Jul ‘13 and became effective on 23 Apr ‘14.
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23 September 2019