On February 7, 2020 , In order to boost business & economy, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) together with 5 of the biggest industry bodies of Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan ) launched the India-Central Asia Business council in New Delhi.
Key Points:
i.External Affairs Minister (EAM)Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs,Vikas Swarup were also present at the launch.
ii.India-Central Asia business council is the common platform for sharing of ideas and the transformation of goodwill into practical outputs and seeks to form a India-Central Asia Development Group.
iii.It will boost trade & investment between India and these 5 nations and also help increase the areas of focus on renewable and non-renewable energy, oil and gas, pharmaceutical and life sciences, automotive agro-food processing, higher education, IT(Information-technology), tourism, urban infrastructure and transport including Railways.
iv.During the event, India proposes trade enhancement with Central Asia through Chabahar Port (a seaport in Chabahar located in southeastern Iran), points at lack of efficient overland connectivity between regions.
v.Other members participated in the meetings were Ms. Sangita Reddy, President FICCI Ambassador Bulat Sarsenbayev, representing the Kazakh National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Mr. Bekturgan Kalybek uulu, representing the Kyrgyz Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. Odil Sangov, representing the Tajik Chamber of Commerce and Indsutry Ambassador Shalar Geldynazarov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to India, representing the Turkmen Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. Adkham Ikramov, representing the Uzbek Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ambassadors of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, My colleague Mr. Vikas Swarup, Secretary (West).
vi.The council is the result of India & Central Asian dialogue held in Samarkand, January 2019.
About FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry): Formation– 1927
Headquarters– New Delhi
President– Sangita Reddy
About Kazakhstan:
Capital– Nur-Sultan
Currency– Kazakh tenge
President– Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
Prime Minister– Askar Uzakbaiuly Mamin
About Kyrgyz Republic:
Capital– Bishkek
Currency– Kyrgyzstani som
President– Sooronbay Jeenbekov
Prime Minister– Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev
About Tajikistan:
Capital– Dushanbe
Currency– Tajikistani somoni
President– Emomali Rahmon
Prime Minister– Kokhir Rasulzoda
About Turkmenistan:
Capital– Ashgabat
Currency– Turkmenistan manat
President– Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
About Uzbekistan:
Capital– Tashkent
Currency– Uzbekistani som
President– Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Prime Minister– Abdulla Aripov
