Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan eye wider access to Eurasian, EU markets through GSP

Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan have discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, employment, labour mobility, education and skills development at three separate meetings in Bishkek.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Ambassador Asad Alam Siam held the meetings with senior Kyrgyz officials on 14 October on the sidelines of the second Foreign Office Consultations (FOC).

At a meeting with Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce Meder Tumanov, the two sides discussed expanding trade, investment and economic cooperation, particularly in cotton, textiles, ready-made garments and pharmaceuticals.

They also explored business opportunities in Eurasian markets and ways to strengthen private-sector engagement through business delegations, trade exhibitions and the use of Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) facilities to improve access to Eurasian and European Union markets.

Both sides stressed the need to pursue agreements on avoiding double taxation and protecting investments, establish a Joint Economic Commission and sign a memorandum of understanding between their respective apex chambers of commerce.

In a separate meeting with First Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Security and Migration Arlen Aliyasov, Siam discussed employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyz authorities indicated that the country's recent development activities would create demand for foreign workers in construction, textiles, pharmaceuticals, digital services, agriculture and teaching.

The two sides also discussed strengthening government-to-government cooperation and signing a memorandum of understanding between the relevant authorities. Aliyasov expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.

At a meeting with Minister of Science, Higher Education and Innovation Gulzat Isamatova, the foreign secretary discussed cooperation in education, student exchange programmes, joint research and publications, scholarships and visa facilitation.

Isamatova indicated that Kyrgyzstan could increase the number of scholarships for Bangladeshi students. She also said students would, in future, be able to transfer from non-accredited to accredited institutions within Kyrgyzstan without having to leave the country.

Invited by Siam, the Kyrgyz minister expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh at a convenient time.

The Bangladesh delegation included Ambassador to Tashkent Dr M Monirul Islam and Foreign Ministry Director General for East Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) S M Mahbubul Alam.

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