|
Bilateral relations between Latvia and Kyrgyzstan are not very active. However, they have a considerable future development potential. Latvia, as a European Union member state, supports closer relations between the EU and the countries of Central Asia.
History of diplomatic relations
Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Kyrgyzstan were established on 18 March 1993.
Latvia's current Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Kyrgyzstan is Mr Igors Apokins. Latvia's representation in Kyrgyzstan is provided by the embassy in Uzbekistan. On 13 March 2007, Lidiya Imanalieva, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kyrgyzstan to Latvia arrived on her accreditation visit to Latvia. Kyrgyzstan is represented in Latvia through its embassy in Belarus, Minsk.
Bilateral relations
Economic co-operation, as well as co-operation in tourism and education may be considered the most prospective of fields in the context of bilateral relations.
Between 13-14 2007, Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis visited Kyrgyzstan. During his visit, Mr. Kalvitis met with the President of Kyrgyzstan as well as with the Kyrgyzstani Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. The Prime Ministers of both countries signed an agreement on co-operation in such areas as industry, science, technology and innovation, investment policy, transport, transit, tourism, energy, statistics and other areas.
To ensure a successful implementation of the agreement, a Latvia - Kyrgyzstan Inter-governmental Commission was established on the issues concerning economic, industrial, scientific and technical co-operation.
Bilateral economic relations with Latvia
Between 8-14 October 2007, a delegation of theChamber of Commerce and Industry of Latvia visited Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The Latvian delegation was headed by Andris Gutmanis, Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Latvia.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kyrgyzstan was represented by First Vice-President S.Makashev.
The delegation included eight representatives from companies. The scope of interest by Latvian entrepreneurs covered mainly metal and timber processing industries, raw materials for bio-fuel, sales of building materials, co-operation with oil refineries and producers of mineral fertilizers and car production as well as sales of peat.
On 11 October, a Latvia - Kyrgyzstan business forum was organised in Bishkek. The heads of delegations from the two countries made presentations on the economic development of their respective countries, and investment opportunities. During the trade mission, an agreement on co-operation was signed between the chambers of commerce and industry of both Latvia and Kyrgyzstan, which is an important framework for commercial and economic co-operation between the two countries. Kyrgyzstani entrepreneurs demonstrated great interest in the co-operation possibilities with Latvian businesses.
Trade
(according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia)
Q2 2007
1. Lithuania - 454,806,549 USD or 13.76 % of total exports from Latvia
2. Estonia - 437,091,217 USD or 13.22 %
3. Russian Federation - 339,883,752 USD or10.28 %
4. Germany - 286,313,650 USD or 8.66 %
5. United Kingdom - 243 271 992 USD jeb 7.37 %
âÀ¦
56. Kyrgyzstan- 1,871,862 USD or 0.06%
1. Germany - 945,815,660 USD or 14.68 % of total imports to Latvia
2. Lithuania - 859,915,900 USD or 13.32 %
3. Russian Federation - 596,244,399 USD or 9.28 %
4. Estonia - 501,943,307 USD or 7.78 %
5. Poland - 427,401,602 USD or 6.63 %
...
74. Kyrgyzstan - 472,677 USD or 0.01 %
As of the first half of 2007, Latvia had a positive trade balance with Kyrgizstan, totalling USD 1,399,185. The respective figure for 1st quarter of 2006 was USD 406,729 and for 2006 - USD 2,235,718.
Main exports to Kyrgyzstan by type of commodity, 2Q 2007, USD
|
Type of commodity |
USD |
Percentage of total exports |
|
Total |
1,871,862 |
100 % |
|
Vehicles |
1,143,343 |
61.08 % |
|
Timber and timber products |
247,623 |
13.23 % |
|
Products of chemical and allied industries |
158,042 |
8.44 % |
|
Miscellaneous manufactured articles |
110,210 |
5.89 % |
|
Optical instruments and apparatus (incl. medical; clocks and watches, musical instruments |
103,325 |
5.52 % |
|
Machinery and equipment, electrical appliances |
57,289 |
3.06 % |
|
Base metals and articles of base metal |
40,279 |
2.15 % |
|
Textiles and textile articles |
6,067 |
0.32 % |
|
Pulp of wood; paper and paperboard |
4,890 |
0.26 % |
|
Plastic and plastic items, rubber and rubber items |
343 |
0.02 % |
|
Footwear, headgear, umbrellas and other items |
211 |
0.01 % |
|
Vegetable products |
138 |
0.01 % |
|
Live animals and animal products |
51 |
0.00 % |
|
Articles of stone, plaster, cement; ceramic products, glassware |
51 |
0.00 % |
Main imports to Kyrgyzstan by type of commodity, 2Q 2007, USD
|
Type of commodity |
USD |
Percentage of total imports |
|
Total |
472,677 |
100% |
|
Precious and semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals plated with precious metals and articles thereof |
414,331 |
87.66 % |
|
Vegetable products |
53,148 |
11.24 % |
|
Prepared foodstuffs |
5,198 |
1.10 % |
Trade dynamics between Latvia and Kyrgyzstan from 1998 to 2Q 2007, in USD
|
Year |
Export |
Import |
|
1998 |
836,310 |
296,945 |
|
1999 |
306,256 |
287,140 |
|
2000 |
451,968 |
260,808 |
|
2001 |
696,537 |
165,947 |
|
2002 |
656,049 |
395,500 |
|
2003 |
855,128 |
310,830 |
|
2004 |
696,394 |
226,002 |
|
2005 |
1,308,822 |
227,164 |
|
2006 |
2,684,118 |
448,400 |
|
2007 Q2 |
1,871,862 |
472,677 |
Investment
As of the first quarter of 2007, there was neither any direct Kyrgyzstani investment registered in Latvia nor was there any Latvian investment - in Kyrgyzstan. (The statistical data of the Bank of Latvia, with regard to Latvia's direct investment, present residues exceeding 0.1 million LVL at the end of at least one period, and, with regard to foreign direct investment stock, presents volumes no less than 1 million LVL.)
As of 27 August 2007, there were five Kyrgyzstani-Latvian joint ventures listed with the Register of Enterprises of the Republic of Latvia. (Lursoft data).
Legal framework
Agreements under approval: - An Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan in the field of air traffic
|
