Thursday 3 June 2021

Kyrgyzstan Pleads with the EU to Invest in Batken

BISHKEK (Cabinet of Ministers press service) – First Deputy Prime Minister Aibek Junushaliyev met with Peter Burian, the European Union Special Representative for Central Asia, on the occasion of the completion of his mission.

Aibek Junushaliyev said that strengthening of comprehensive partnership with the European Union is one of the main priorities of the country’s foreign policy. Kyrgyzstan is grateful to the EU for the support provided to the republic during the pandemic, as well as for Brussels’ recent decision to assist the Kyrgyz Republic in connection with the events on the state border. Aibek Junushaliyev said:

Today we are working on giving a special status to the Batken region, where tax, investment preferences are expected to be provided, in this regard, we invite the European Union countries to invest in projects of Batken region and the economy of Kyrgyzstan.

Peter Burian, in turn, expressed his willingness to continue cooperation in the priority areas of partnership, including assistance in the development of local communities. He underlined the important role of vaccination in overcoming the pandemic and the work being done by the European Union on the COVAX initiative.

The sides discussed a range of topical cooperation issues, including the signing of a new enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement between Kyrgyzstan and the EU in 2021, as well as the holding of the First EU-Central Asia Economic Forum on 6 November this year in Bishkek. To ensure constant work and monitoring of the implementation of the agreements reached, the first deputy prime minister suggested setting up a forum secretariat in the capital.

Forum posts

Richard from Dubai (4 June 2021, 08:27)

With their new president, Kyrgyzstan has become a Russian satellite, a kind of province without the name. They should rather ask Putin to invest than to beg the EU. After what happened to the Kumtor gold mine, one would have to be an idiot to invest in this country.

Juliano di M. (4 June 2021, 16:58)

Well said!

The seizure of the mine is based on false information and groundless allegationsr. The government’s unjustified action will put thousands of well-paying jobs and the businesses of hundreds of Kyrgyz suppliers at risk.

Centerra Gold has invested more than $3.4 billion as they developed and operated a world-class facility to international environmental, safety and engineering standards and extended the life of the mine to more than 34 years. Under their management, the Kumtor Mine became the largest private employer in the Kyrgyz Republic, its biggest taxpayer and a critical contributor to the Kyrgyz economy and important social programs.

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Richard from Dubai (4 June 2021, 08:27)

With their new president, Kyrgyzstan has become a Russian satellite, a kind of province without the name. They should rather ask Putin to invest than to beg the EU. After what happened to the Kumtor gold mine, one would have to be an idiot to invest in this country.
Juliano di M. (4 June 2021, 16:58)

Well said!

The seizure of the mine is based on false information and groundless allegationsr. The government’s unjustified action will put thousands of well-paying jobs and the businesses of hundreds of Kyrgyz suppliers at risk.

Centerra Gold has invested more than $3.4 billion as they developed and operated a world-class facility to international environmental, safety and engineering standards and extended the life of the mine to more than 34 years. Under their management, the Kumtor Mine became the largest private employer in the Kyrgyz Republic, its biggest taxpayer and a critical contributor to the Kyrgyz economy and important social programs.