CII organised an interactive session with Minister of Natural Resources, Republic of Kyrgyzstan, H.E. Mr. Kapar Kurmanaliev, Chairman OIA Ambassador V.B. Soni was given the honour to preside over the function Her Excellency, Ms. Orolbaeva Irina Abdyevna, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to India was also present along with a large contingent of officials from the Kyrgyz government. The Indian business community was well represented.

The visit of the Kyrgyz Minister to India was in the context of India-Kyrgyz inter Governmental Joint Commission.

Chairman OIA in his welcoming remarks highlighted Minister's background as a geologist by academic discipline and a former business consultant. With those impeccable credentials he was ideally placed to advise on the initiatives to be taken by the two sides to give our bilateral trade economic ties the badly needed thrust.

• India deeply values its strong friendship and close bilateral relations with the Kyrgyz Republic.
• This friendship is based on mutual confidence and trust as well as close convergence on
  matters of national interest and global significance.
• India has benefited tremendously from the strategic support of the Kyrgyz Republic in political, military and scientific fields since its Independence, and has enjoyed its fullest cooperation in our development endeavour.
• The bilateral trade between India and Kyrgyzstan in 2008-2009 was US$ 23.95 million, with a trade balance of US$ 21.89 million which has decreased as compared to 2007-2008 in which bilateral trade was US$ 32.43 million, with a trade balance of US$ 30.61 million.
• Both our countries and the business communities should proactively engage with each other
  to enhance and strengthen our bilateral trade and business cooperation.
• India's exports items to the Kyrgyz Republic are Knit Apparel, Woven Apparel, Pharmaceutical Products, Electrical Machinery, Tobacco, Iron and Steel products.
• There is a large scope for diversifying India's exports to Kyrgyzstan, especially in sectors such as Information Technology, Tourism, Pharmaceutical Products, Woven Apparel, Machinery, Infrastructure and Banking, Iron and Steel Products etc. In order to enhance trade and investment ties between the two countries.
• Kyrgyzstan is rich in mineral resources and this could be tapped by the Indian Industry. Another important area of cooperation can be Metallurgy.
• Lack of information about Kyrgyzstan is an issue which needs to be catered to urgently.
• Kyrgyz Republic produces hydel energy in abundance and wondered whether two sides could find common areas to explore in this regard.