India–Kyrgyzstan relations
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 Kyrgyzstan |
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India-Kyrgyzstan relations is the relation between India and Kyrgyzstan.
History
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 Kyrgyzia Republic had limited political, economic and cultural contacts.
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Bishkek and Issyk Kul Lake in 1985. Since the independence of Kyrgyz Republic on 31 August 1991, India was among the first to establish diplomatic relations in 1992; the resident Mission of India was set up in 1994.
Relations
Political relations
Political ties with the Kyrgyz Republic have been traditionally warm and friendly. The Kyrgyz leaderships have been largely supportive of India's stand on Kashmir and have welcomed the ongoing peace process. Kyrgyzstan also supports India's bid for permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council and India's role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
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.
At the institutional level, Foreign Office Consultations (the Fifth Session was held in Bishkek in June 2009) have provided a useful forum for exchange of views on bilateral and international issues, thereby facilitating greater understanding. Nurlan Aitmurzaev, the Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs led a delegation to attend the 6th Foreign Office Consultation meeting held at New Delhi on 4 August 2011. The Indian side was headed by Secretary (East). An Indo-Kyrgyz Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation set up in 1992. Five sessions of the Joint Commission have been held so far. The 5th Session of India-Kyrgyz Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was held in New Delhi on 4 March 2010. A protocol was signed between the two countries for co-operation and investments in mineral exploration and development, food processing sector, chemical and petrochemical sector, Information Technology, healthcare sector, science and technology, tourism, education, sports and culture. The Indo-Kyrgyz diplomatic relations has reached its 20th year. The Mission has commenced celebration to mark the 20th Anniversary with exchange of greetings between the Foreign Affairs Minister of both the countries and hosting a reception for the dignitaries of the diplomatic missions and Kyrgyz government functionaries on 19 March 2012.
Bilateral visits
During the almost 15 years of former President Akaev's regime, close bilateral ties were reinforced by several high-level visits; President Akaev visited India four times (March 1992, April 1999, August 2002, and November 2003); other important visits from the Kyrgyz Republic to India included those of Mr Apas Jumagulov, Prime Minister (May 1997), Ms Mira Jangavacheva, Vice-Prime Minister (March 1997), Mr I A Abdurazakov, State Secretary (April 1997) etc. From the Indian side, the late K R Narayanan and the late Krishna Kant, former Vice-Presidents, visited Kyrgyzstan in September 1996 and August 1999 respectively. Former PM, the late Narasimha Rao visited Kyrgyz Republic in September 1995. In 2003, two Indian cabinet Ministers, EAM Shri Yashwant Sinha and Raksha Mantri Shri George Fernandes, visited Bishkek in January and November respectively. Shri Murli S Deora, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas led a delegation to Kyrgyzstan during SCO Summit on 15–16 August 2007. Raksha Mantri Shri A K Antony visited Kyrgyzstan on 4–6 July 2011 to inaugurate Kyrgyz-India Mountain Bio-Medical Research Centre.
Lt General I Isakov, Kyrgyz Defence Minister, visited India in November, 2005. On invitation from India, Mr Turatobek Djunushaliev, Minister of Emergency Situation of the Kyrgyz Republic visited India to attend the 2nd Asian Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in New Delhi on 7–8 November 2007. Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Mr Ednan Karabaev Oskonovich visited India on 3–6 February 2008. Secretary (East) visited Kyrgyzstan in June 2009 to participate in the Indo-Kyrgyz FOC. Mr Kapar Kurmanaliev, Minister of Natural Resources visited India in March, 2010 to attend the 5th Session of India-kyrgyz Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation. Kyrgyz Defence Minister Kudaiberdiev Abibilla Alymovich visited India on 7–10 September 2011.
Parliamentary exchanges
A Parliamentary delegation led by Mr Usup Mukambaev, the then Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Kyrgyz Parliament, visited India from 25 July to 1 August 1997. The four-member group of the Kyrgyz Parliamentarians visited India in February 1999 to study the Indian experiences in infrastructure and agricultural sectors.
Indo-Kyrgyz trade
Indo-Kyrgyz trade totaled US$ 23.56 million in 2010-11. India's exports to Kyrgyzstan was US$ 22.56 million whereas Kyrgyz exports to India amounted to only US$ 1.2 million. Apparel and clothing (both knitted and crocheted as well as not-knitted and crocheted), leather goods, drugs and pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and tea are some of the important items in India's export basket to Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz exports to India consist of raw hides, metalifers ores and metal scrap etc.
Financial assistance
In 1995, India had extended a US$ 5 million line of credit to Kyrgyzstan; out of this, US$ 2.78 million were disbursed for four projects – a plant for manufacturing toothbrushes, a polythene bag manufacturing plant, a toothpaste production plant and a pharmaceutical plant. Kyrgyz side repaid US$ 1.66 million and the balance amount was converted to grant.
India assisted projects
During President Akaev's visit to India in August 2002, the government of India had offered setting up an IT development centre and a potato processing plant in Kyrgyzstan. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up an IT development centre was signed in Bishkek on 20 March 2006. HMT (I), the Indian implementing agency, set up the Indo-Kyrgyz Centre for Information Technology in Bishkek and the Centre was formally inaugurated by Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Murli S Deora on 15 August 2007. Presently, this Centre is imparting short duration IT courses and has trained over 800 professionals from Kyrgyzstan so far.
An MoU was signed in May 2009 for setting up a potato processing plant (for production of potato chips and potato flakes) at Talas, Kyrgyzstan. The project is being undertaken under India's aid to Central Asia at a total cost of R 108,044,000. The plant has already been set up. Visit of a technical team from India is awaited to start the production and train the Kyrgyz team who will be operating the plant. GOI provided assistance for setting up a mountain bio-medical research centre in Kyrgyzstan at Too Ashu Pass at a cost of R 6.5 crores. The Centre was inaugurated on 5 July 2011 by Rakhsa Mantri Shri A K Antony.
Technical cooperation
Technical assistance under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC), particularly in terms of human resources development, is the cornerstone of India's economic involvement in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan has been allotted 60 slots on an annual basis for civilian training under ITEC. More than 700 professionals from Kyrgyzstan have received training in India since 1992.
Education and culture
An Agreement on Cooperation in the spheres of culture, arts, education, science, mass-media and sports was signed between the two countries on 18 March 1992. In October 1992, a cultural exchange programme valid for 1992-94 was signed by the two countries. This was subsequently extended up to the year 2000.
A draft Agreement on Cooperation in area of culture for the period from 2012-2014 is under consideration of Ministries of Culture of both sides. The Centre for Indian Studies set up in Osh State University in 1997 has been useful in providing an exposure to Indian culture and civilisation to academicians and intelligentsia in this country. Prof Badruddin, deputed by the ICCR, has left for India following large scale ethnic violence and worsening law and order situation in Osh.
Indians in Kyrgyzstan
About 4,000 Indian students are studying medicine in various medical institutions in Kyrgyzstan. A few businessmen are engaged in trade and services in Kyrgyzstan.
External links
References
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