Bishkek:Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan have reached an agreement to explore increased cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, education, skills development, and labor mobility. A significant focus was placed on expanding employment opportunities for skilled Bangladeshi workers in Kyrgyzstan.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the discussions took place during three separate meetings between Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Ambassador Asad Alam Siam and senior Kyrgyz government officials. These meetings occurred in Bishkek on the sidelines of the second round of Foreign Office Consultations between the two nations.
In a meeting with First Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Security and Migration Arlen Aliyasov, the foreign secretary discussed the potential for expanding overseas employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers. The Kyrgyz officials indicated plans to recruit more foreign workers to meet the demand from recent development activities. Sectors such as construction, textiles, pharmaceuticals, digital services, agriculture, and teaching were identified as potential areas for employment.
Both parties considered strengthening government-to-government cooperation to ensure safe and orderly labor mobility and discussed the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding between relevant authorities. Aliyasov also expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh to further cooperation in employment and migration.
In discussions with Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce Meder Tumanov, the focus was on expanding bilateral trade, investment, and economic partnerships. Opportunities for cooperation in cotton production, textiles, and the ready-made garment industry were explored, along with the pharmaceutical sector. Both sides emphasized the importance of private-sector engagement and utilizing Generalised System of Preferences facilities to expand market access to Eurasian and European Union markets.
A separate meeting with Minister of Science, Higher Education and Innovation Gulzat Isamatova focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in education, research, and skills development. Discussions included expanding educational exchanges and increasing opportunities for Bangladeshi students to study in Kyrgyzstan, with a potential increase in available scholarships. Siam invited Isamatova to visit Bangladesh to further enhance collaboration between educational institutions.
The meetings demonstrated a mutual interest in diversifying bilateral cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic engagements, particularly in economic development, human resource mobility, and educational partnerships. Members of the Bangladesh delegation included Bangladesh Ambassador to Tashkent Dr. M Monirul Islam and Foreign Ministry Director General (East Europe and CIS) SM Mahbubul Alam.