Kyrgyzstan interested in co-op with South Korean companies
By Aynur Jafarova
Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev who is on a two-day official visit to South Korea attended the Kyrgyzstan- Korean investment forum which was held in the South Korean capital, Seoul on November 19.
Speaking at the forum Atambayev informed the guests on the work conducted in Kyrgyzstan for improving the business and investment climate in the country.
"There are all necessary prerequisites and conditions for it. As of today, agreements on economic cooperation, expansion and protection of investment, avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion have been signed between the governments of Kyrgyzstan and South Korea," he said.
According to Atambayev, Kyrgyzstan is uncompromising in its struggle against corruption and the internal legislation for decreasing the administrative thresholds is changing.
He also invited the Korean investors to join the countries which aim to implement their long-term interests in Kyrgyzstan.
"We are interested in further strengthening and expanding the cooperation with South Korean companies. The implementation of national projects, creation of high-technology production and implementation of large infrastructure projects in the territory of Kyrgyzstan will be a priority for us," he said.
According to Atambayev, currently, the lowest direct taxes in the Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) exist in Kyrgyzstan.
As part of the visit the Kyrgyz President met with his Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye on November 19.
During the meeting the sides discussed various aspects of Kyrgyz-South Korean relations and stressed that Atambayev's visit to South Korea will give new impetus to the development of relations between the two countries.
The parties noted the importance to strengthen the cooperation between South Korea and Kyrgyzstan in bilateral and multilateral formats.
They mentioned the importance to further activate the investment-economic cooperation between the two countries.
The Korean president said that her country is interested in cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries.
The presidents' meeting was followed by the signing of several bilateral documents, including a framework agreement on non-repayable aid and an agreement on mutual recognition and exchange of driver's licenses between the governments of the two countries, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the energy and industry fields between Kyrgyz Energy and Industry Ministry and Korean Trade, Industry and Energy Ministry.
Also, the Kyrgyz president met with Speaker of Korean National Assembly Kang Chang-hee, CEO of the Export-Import Bank Kim Yong Hwan as well as Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Lee Sungbo.