18.04.2016 Bishkek / Kyrgyzstan
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu visited Kyrgyzstan on the invitation of the President of Kyrgyzstan, Almazbek Atambayev.
Greeted by Kyrgyz Economy Minister Arzybek Kozhashef TOBB President
Hisarcıklıoğlu and the delegation accompanying him first met with Kyrgyzstan
President Atambayev.
During the meeting which focused on the increasing of cooperation
opportunities and investment opportunities, Hisarcıklıoğlu relayed to President
Atambayev that they are working closely with the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Chamber
of Commerce and Industry Chair Marat Sharshekeev and that Sharshekeev has been
talking with them in regards to various projects.
Stating that they support efforts to improve the chambers system in
Kyrgyzstan, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Our friends have been working with the
Kyrgyzstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday. Turkey has a very robust
chambers system. It is arguably the strongest chambers system, second only to
the one in Germany.
- Request to lift quotas
Emphasizing that the Bilateral Promotion and Protection of
Turkey-Kyrgyzstan Investments (YKTK) Agreement should have been renewed years
ago, Hisarcıklıoğlu requested of President Atambayev that the transportation
system between the two countries be made freer and that quotas be loosened or
completely lifted.
Hisarcıklıoğlu suggested that the continuation of the business forum
held in January in Ankara be held in June in Kyrgyzstan.
During the meeting wherein Kyrgyzstan’s membership in the Eurasia
Economic Union was touched on, the need was expressed in regards to increasing
cooperation of Kyrgyz-Turkish business community in order to insure that Kyrgyz
exporters are able to one-sidedly benefit from the Generalized Preferences
System put in place by the European Union.
Afterwards Hisarcıklığolu met with Turkey’s Ambassador to Bishkek Metin
Kılıç and Republic of Kyrgyzstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chair marat
Sharkshekeev and the Board of Directors thereof. The TOBB delegation also
visited the mosque which TOBB contributed to in the Manas University campus.
TOBB Board Vice President Ali Kopuz and Board Member Necdet were also a
part of the TOBB delegation.