Tehran, Bishkek Firm to Boost Agricultural, Commercial Cooperation

Iran and Kyrgyzstan are resolute to bolster bilateral ties in areas of agriculture, food and conversion industries, and trade, and the two sides are holding regular meetings to meet these objectives.

On Friday, Iranian Ambassador to Bishkek Saeed Kharrazi met and held talks with Minister of Agriculture, Food Industry and Melioration of Kyrgyzstan Erkinbek Choduyev on development of bilateral cooperation.

In the meeting, Kharrazi emphasized the willingness of the two countries' officials to expand bilateral relations, the readiness of the Iranian and Kyrgyz sides to cooperate in the agriculture and conversion industries.

Referring to the 40% growth in trade exchanges with Kyrgyzstan in 2019, he said that the implementation of the provisions related to the agriculture of the 12th Joint Economic Commission’s document, as well as cooperation with knowledge-based companies, are among the effective measures to develop relations between two countries.

Confirming the growth in trade exchanges between Iran and Kyrgyzstan, especially in the field of agriculture, Erkinbek Choduyev, for his part, said that Kyrgyzstan is ready to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture Jihad and Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology on expansion of cooperation.

In December, Iranian Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade Reza Rahmani announced that Tehran and Bishkek have decided to increase the value of their trade exchanges up to $500mln.

Rahmani said that economic exchanges between Iran and Kyrgyzstan would soon increase to nearly $500 million, up from a meager figure of $40 million that exists currently.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Economy Sanjar Mukanbetov in Tehran, he said that trade between the two would further surge in the years to come.

Rahmani said the two countries have agreed on efforts that would facilitate the trade schemes, including the launch of direct flights and easing visa restrictions for economic delegations.

He said Iranian manufacturers have declared plans for investment in Kyrgyzstan as they seek to have more access to the markets in the Central Asia region.

Iran and Kyrgyzstan enjoy a long record of cooperation and friendly ties.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a message to his Kyrgyz counterpart Sooronbay Jeenbekov, in September voiced hope that bilateral ties between Tehran and Bishkek would grow further and deeper.

Rouhani forwarded a message of felicitations to his Kyrgyz counterpart offering congratulations on the anniversary of the Independence Day of the Central Asian country.

He expressed his hope that the good relations between Tehran and Bishkek continue to grow and further expand and deepen in all political, economic and cultural areas.