Nuran S Niyazaliev (second right), Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Qatar, with other officials during a reception for the Kyrgyz community in Qatar to celebrate the Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan held at Royal Riviera Hotel yesterday. Baher Amin / Th
DOHA: The Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Qatar Nuran S Niyazaliev has said that the Kyrgyz Republic is looking for ways to strengthen trade and business with Qatar.
He said that the Kyrgyz Republic wanted to expand trade relations beyond existing range of products and investment in power generation, mining, transport, infrastructure, agriculture, halal industry as well as tourism.
“The business environment in Kyrgyzstan has been favourable to foreign investments. Investments in Kyrgyzstan are protected by law. The rights of foreign investors are equal with those of citizens, so the foreigners don’t feel any extra competition,” he added while addressing a reception hosted for Kyrgyz community on the eve of 27th Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan.
Talking to The Peninsula, the ambassador said that the current trade volume between Kyrgyzstan and Qatar was very low and it was due to lack of connectivity, both by air and sea, between two states.
He said that a railroad project was underway which would connect Central Asian states to GCC via Iran’s Bandar Abbas Port which would open new vistas of cooperation and enhanced trade between Kyrgyzstan and Qatar.
Niyazaliev said that being an agricultural country, Kyrgyzstan could provide food products to Qatar. “Recently some Qatari companies also visited Kyrgyzstan and took samples of agricultural products as well.”
He said: “We welcome Qatari investors, government owned and private companies of Qatar to visit the Kyrgyz Republic and explore business opportunities.”
He said that since independence, the Kyrgyz Republic had established the closest relations with the Arabian gulf countries. “The priority attention is paid to cooperation with the State of Qatar. I would like to underline that the Kyrgyz Republic is very keen on strengthening further the brotherly relations with the State of Qatar.”
The Ambassador said that President of the Kyrgyz Republic had visited Doha two times in the past two years and both time met with Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. “Heads of the two brotherly countries supported intensifying cooperation in trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres.”
He said that Kyrgyzstan and Qatar had signed 20 agreements, memorandums and protocols, including Agreement on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation, Agreement on Mutual Encouragement and Protection of Investments, Memorandum on Cooperation in Tourism.
“The first meeting of the Kyrgyz-Qatar Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation was held from March 12 to 16, 2017 in Doha. The Commission, co-chaired by Minister of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic and Minister of Economy and Commerce of the State of Qatar, agreed on number of measures to boost trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.”
“We look forward that Qatar Airways will establish a direct flight between Doha and Bishkek. It will contribute also to deepening trade and investment cooperation as well as cultural and tourism relations between the two countries. The Kyrgyz Republic has abolished visa requirement for citizens of Qatar, and any Qatari can visit my country without visa.”
He said: “Qatar deserves the best and we are ready to provide it with the best products, the best services and offer the best investment projects.”
He said that the State of Qatar had made significant progress in implementing the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Kyrgyz Republic was in process of executing the National Strategy 2040.
“I hope that with support of the business communities our brotherly countries will reach their development goals successfully and prosper together for years ahead.”
