Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan agree to expand trade, investment, connectivity and cooperation across multiple sectors, with a $200 million trade target set for the next two years.
BISHKEK: Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to take practical and result-oriented steps to strengthen cooperation in trade, education, health, climate change, science and technology, culture and other sectors, with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif saying the two countries aim to increase bilateral trade from the current $16 million to $200 million within two years.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov in Bishkek on Wednesday, the prime minister said Kyrgyzstan was an important partner for Pakistan in Central Asia and described the signing and exchange of agreements and memorandums of understanding as the beginning of a new phase in bilateral cooperation.
Shehbaz said the two sides had agreed on a comprehensive plan focused on gradually increasing trade, improving trade procedures, promoting joint investment projects, strengthening industrial cooperation and expanding direct business-to-business contacts.
He said the existing trade volume of $16 million did not reflect the strength of relations between the two countries and expressed confidence that it could be raised to $200 million within the next two years.
The prime minister welcomed the transit trade agreement, saying improved transport, customs and administrative procedures would facilitate bilateral trade, travel and regional connectivity. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to implementing the four-country transit agreement.
Energy cooperation was also discussed, with Shehbaz stressing the importance of timely completion of the CASA-1000 project. He welcomed the establishment of a joint working group for practical cooperation in electricity, hydropower, alternative energy, energy infrastructure and modern technology.
The prime minister said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan had also discussed cooperation in security and defense and reaffirmed their commitment to working together against terrorism, extremism and other contemporary security threats.
He welcomed the development of cooperation in education, science and technology, health, culture and tourism, as well as the establishment of sister-city relations between Osh and Lahore.
Shehbaz also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2027-28 and on its successful chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
President Sadyr Zhaparov said Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan had extensive opportunities for investment and expressed readiness to implement joint projects in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, energy, light machinery, tourism, the digital economy and virtual assets.
He said transport and logistics had received particular attention, describing Pakistani ports as a natural route for Kyrgyzstan to South Asian markets and international trade, while Kyrgyzstan could serve as an important gateway for Pakistan to Central Asian and Eurasian markets.
Zhaparov also highlighted the importance of people-to-people contacts, noting that thousands of Pakistani students were studying in Kyrgyzstan, particularly medicine.
The two leaders also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest and agreed to enhance cooperation on environmental and climate-related challenges.
Earlier, the two sides exchanged documents relating to agreements and MoUs in various fields. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Zhaparov also signed and exchanged a joint declaration.
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