Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan Agree to Expand Trade, Investment and Labor Cooperation

Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan have emphasized the importance of leveraging Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits to expand access to Eurasian and European Union (EU) markets. The two countries have also agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, education, skills development, and manpower export.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Ambassador Asad Alam Siam held separate meetings with three Kyrgyz ministers on the sidelines of the second Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh disclosed the information in a statement issued Thursday.

During a meeting with Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce Medet Tumanov, the two sides discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, the ready-made garment sector, and the pharmaceutical industry. They also discussed a double taxation avoidance agreement, an investment protection agreement, and the establishment of a Joint Economic Commission.

In a separate meeting with Arlen Aliyasov, First Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Security and Migration of Kyrgyzstan, discussions focused on expanding manpower exports from Bangladesh and strengthening government-to-government (G2G) cooperation.

Kyrgyzstan has demand for workers in several sectors, including construction, textiles, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and digital services. The discussions explored opportunities to facilitate the recruitment and deployment of Bangladeshi workers in these industries.

Foreign Secretary Siam also met Gulzat Isamatova, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Science, Higher Education and Innovation. Their discussions covered student exchanges, scholarships, joint research initiatives, and visa facilitation. Isamatova indicated that the number of scholarships available to Bangladeshi students could be increased.

Other members of the Bangladesh delegation included Dr. M. Monirul Islam, Bangladesh’s ambassador to Tashkent, and S. M. Mahbubul Alam, Director General for Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The discussions reflect both countries’ interest in strengthening bilateral relations and exploring new opportunities for economic, educational, and labor-market cooperation.