Bilateral Cooperation - The Times Of Central Asia

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Issyk-Kul Forum

Kyrgyzstan and Russia Sign $270 Million in Agreements at Issyk-Kul Forum

At the seventh Kyrgyz-Russian Economic Forum on the shores of Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan and Russia signed nearly 30 agreements worth about US $270 million. The forum brought together around 1,000 representatives from government agencies, investment funds, businesses, and public organizations across member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). In his address, President Sadyr Japarov said Kyrgyzstan has maintained average annual economic growth of 9 per cent since 2022, the highest rate among countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States and the EAEU. He described the forum as a vital platform for strengthening cooperation, exchanging experience, and fostering direct business ties. He also stressed the importance of technological independence, protection of digital data, and the development of national IT infrastructure. The agreements span energy, industry, transport, aviation, agriculture, the digital economy, education, and logistics. They include a US $55 million contract for Airports of Kyrgyzstan to acquire aircraft from a Russian manufacturer, a US $2.8 million memorandum for the purchase of an electric cruise ship, supply agreements for tractors, trucks, metal products, and machine tools, and plans for a milk processing complex. Additional deals cover financing arrangements for Kyrgyz companies to issue securities on the Russian market, an investment agreement with the Eurasian Development Bank to support projects through the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund, and a commitment by the Kyrgyz Green Energy Fund to purchase electricity from Russian suppliers. Roscosmos and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Digital Development also signed a memorandum on the peaceful exploration of space. First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar Amangeldiev noted that during Kyrgyzstan’s decade as an EAEU member, the country has seen improvements in socioeconomic indicators, a decline in unemployment, and continued growth in priority sectors.

Bilateral Cooperation

Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan Aim to Boost Trade and Economic Ties

Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan have agreed to open trading houses in each other’s countries as part of a broader effort to deepen bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The agreement was reached on August 13 during the visit of an Afghan delegation to Bishkek, led by Nooruddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Azizi met with the Kyrgyz Minister of Economy and Commerce, Bakyt Sydykov. The two ministers signed a roadmap for future cooperation, along with a memorandum of understanding focused on enhancing trade and economic ties. Sydykov described the visit as a significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations and highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s interest in exploring new, mutually beneficial areas of cooperation. He noted that the two countries hold considerable potential for expanding trade. Discussions also touched on digitalization, with the Kyrgyz side offering to share its experience in the sector with Afghan partners. According to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the two countries recorded $66 million in bilateral trade during the last solar year (March 2024-March 2025), with Afghan exports accounting for $7 million of that figure. Key Afghan exports to Kyrgyzstan include aluminum and copper utensils, pressure cookers, carpets, fruits, and vegetables. In January-February 2025 alone, Kyrgyzstan exported $11.5 million worth of petroleum products to Afghanistan, according to Kyrgyz media. Trade between the two countries has seen an uptick following Kyrgyzstan’s September 2024 decision to remove the Taliban from its list of prohibited organizations. The Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the move was aimed at promoting regional stability and fostering constructive dialogue. On September 6, 2024, then-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov met with Afghanistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in Kyrgyzstan, Nurullah Amin, to discuss ways to advance bilateral relations. The Kyrgyz side expressed interest in enhancing trade and transport links, jointly developing Afghan mineral resources, and cooperating in energy, industry, and agriculture.

Bilateral Trade

Tajikistan and Flanders Explore Closer Ties in Industry, Tourism, and Trade

A delegation from the Belgian region of Flanders is currently visiting Dushanbe for official meetings aimed at expanding cooperation with Tajikistan. The visit, which began on August 11 at the invitation of the Dushanbe city authorities, will continue through August 16. The Flemish delegation is led by Jill Willems Suetens, head of the Protocol and Administrative Department. Focus Areas: Industry, Innovation, and Investment Talks are centered around collaboration in the light and textile industries, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, food production, and artificial intelligence. Tourism and trade, meanwhile, have been highlighted as key priorities. The Belgian side has been invited to take part in upcoming events organized by the Ministry of Industry and the Dushanbe Invest 2025 International Investment Forum, scheduled for October. During their visit, the Flemish representatives have held meetings with senior officials from the Dushanbe city administration, the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, the State Committee for Investment, the National Academy of Sciences, the Committee for Tourism Development, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Smart City State Unitary Enterprise, and the International University of Tourism and Entrepreneurship. The State Committee for Investment presented Tajikistan’s potential to foreign investors, emphasizing tourism and trade as sectors with high growth prospects. To gain a deeper understanding of the country’s history and culture, the delegation is also visiting prominent sites such as the National Museum, the Kohi Navruz palace complex, the Central Mosque, the Plov culinary center, the Mehrgon market, the Gissar Fortress, and the Varzob region. The cultural itinerary aims to promote Tajikistan's tourism offerings and foster deeper exchange. Flanders: An Economic Powerhouse Flanders is one of Belgium’s primary industrial and commercial hubs and is home to the country’s largest ports, Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, and Ostend. The region has a population of 6.8 million, comprising 58% of Belgium’s total population. In 2024, Flanders ranked 15th globally by export volume. Its main export commodities include chemical products, pharmaceuticals, transport vehicles, textiles, machinery, fruit, plastics, and precious stones. Trade between Tajikistan and Flanders surpassed €108 million in 2024. Tajikistan accounted for €102.36 million in exports, while Flanders exported €5.73 million worth of goods to Tajikistan.

Nuclear Energy

Uzbekistan and Belarus Deepen Nuclear Energy Cooperation

Uzbekistan and Belarus are moving to strengthen bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy, following a high-level meeting in Minsk on August 5. The talks were hosted by Belarusian Energy Minister Denis Moroz and attended by a delegation from Uzbekistan’s Uzatom Atomic Energy Agency, led by Director Azim Akhmedkhadjaev. Discussions covered a broad range of potential collaboration areas, including nuclear infrastructure development, specialist training, radioactive waste and spent fuel management, and integration of nuclear power into national energy systems. “We welcome Uzbekistan’s decision to join the club of states using atomic energy for peaceful purposes and implementing a national nuclear program,” Moroz said, expressing Belarus’s readiness to share its experience. The Uzbek delegation is expected to visit the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant in Ostrovets, where technical teams from both countries will explore concrete areas for cooperation. Moroz emphasized that the launch of the Belarusian plant has bolstered national energy security and driven innovation in sectors such as electric transport and housing electrification. “The nuclear power plant has become a springboard for Belarus to reach a new technological level,” he said, adding that the facility complies fully with international safety standards. Uzatom Director Akhmedkhadjaev commended Belarus’s progress in the nuclear sector, calling it “advanced and highly successful.” He expressed interest in involving Belarusian experts in Uzbekistan’s nuclear development efforts. The Uzbek delegation also visited the dispatch control center of Belenergo, Belarus’s national energy company, to observe nuclear grid integration in practice. Uzbekistan signed a contract with Russia’s Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of Rosatom, in May 2024 to build a small modular nuclear power plant in the Jizzakh Region. The design includes six 55 MW reactors with a combined capacity of 330 MW. In February 2025, Uzatom also formed an international consortium to expand its nuclear capacity, incorporating technologies from Russia, China, Europe, and the United States.

Higher Education

Italian University Opens Branch in Kazakhstan to Train Agricultural Specialists

Marche Polytechnic University of Ancona, Italy, has officially opened a branch campus at Zhetysu University named after Ilyas Zhansugurov in Taldykorgan, the administrative center of Kazakhstan’s southeastern Zhetysu region. The inauguration ceremony on July 16 was attended by prominent officials including Zhetysu Region Governor Beibit Isabayev, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, and Italian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Antonello De Riu. Marche Polytechnic University is a public institution that offers a broad range of academic programs in agriculture, engineering, economics, medicine, and biology. The new branch in Kazakhstan is expected to focus on disciplines that align with the region’s agricultural priorities, including agriculture, food engineering, tourism, economics, and digital technologies. Addressing the Region’s Workforce Needs In his remarks, Nurbek emphasized the importance of developing local expertise to support the region’s growing agri-tech and greenhouse sectors. “Our region is in need of agronomists and digital specialists to support the growth of our greenhouse complexes,” he said. “This new branch will help meet that demand with targeted academic programs.” Isabayev highlighted the regional administration’s support for the initiative, announcing 14 scholarships for students during the first stage of enrollment. “Our region is an agricultural one,” he said. “We need skilled professionals who can introduce innovation and advanced technologies into the sector.” A Boost for Bilateral Cooperation De Riu praised the initiative as a significant milestone in Kazakh-Italian academic cooperation. “Collaboration with Zhetysu University is a key part of Italy’s international strategy,” he said. “We will implement joint projects in education and scientific research and share expertise that enhances both institutions. This is not just about opening new opportunities, it's a real step forward in strengthening the friendship and partnership between Kazakhstan and Italy.” Faculty members from Marche Polytechnic University will deliver courses at the new branch, while students will benefit from access to joint research opportunities and international internships. Graduates will receive dual diplomas from both institutions.

Foreign Affairs

Kyrgyzstan and Russia Reaffirm Strategic Partnership in Moscow Talks

Kyrgyzstan and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors following a high-level meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov at the Kremlin on July 2. President Putin welcomed President Japarov to Moscow with praise for the positive trajectory of economic ties between the two countries. “Last year, bilateral trade increased by over 11%, and in the first four months of this year, it grew by more than 17%,” Putin noted during the reception. He emphasized that Russia remains one of Kyrgyzstan’s key trade and economic partners, highlighting the role of the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund, which continues to support industrial and agricultural initiatives in Kyrgyzstan. Putin also noted the expanding footprint of Russian businesses in the country. Cultural and educational cooperation featured prominently in the discussions. Putin pointed out that approximately 200 Russian teachers are currently working in 43 schools across Kyrgyzstan. “We have launched new school construction projects and plan to expand the number of Russian-language schools,” he said, expressing gratitude to Japarov for maintaining the official status of the Russian language in Kyrgyzstan. Russian remains one of Kyrgyzstan’s official languages and continues to function as a key medium of communication in the country’s multi-ethnic society. President Japarov echoed the strong political alignment between Bishkek and Moscow. “There is full mutual understanding and trust between our countries. There are no political differences or contradictions,” he stated. Japarov also highlighted the potential for further cooperation in sectors including energy, transport, industry, and agriculture, reinforcing the enduring strategic partnership between the two nations.