Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan Sign Deal to Raise Bilateral Trade to $200 Million
Agreement signed in Bishkek aims to lift annual bilateral trade from around $16 million to $200 million within two years, alongside wider cooperation in investment, connectivity and key economic sectors.
ISLAMABAD/BISHKEK: Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have signed an agreement aimed at increasing bilateral trade to $200 million within the next two years, marking a significant push to deepen economic relations between the two countries.
The agreement was signed in Bishkek on Wednesday before Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s departure for Pakistan. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev signed and exchanged the document in the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, according to state-run Associated Press of Pakistan.
Speaking alongside the Kyrgyz leadership, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the existing annual bilateral trade of approximately $16 million did not reflect the depth of relations between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. He said the two countries should translate their political goodwill and longstanding ties into stronger economic engagement.
The prime minister proposed raising bilateral trade from $16 million to $200 million within two years and advocated converting the understanding on the trade target into a formal agreement. According to APP, the proposal was accepted by President Japarov, paving the way for the agreement.
The $200 million target represents a more than twelve-fold increase over the current reported level of bilateral trade, making implementation, business-to-business engagement and improved transport links central to achieving the goal.
Trade, Connectivity and Investment Cooperation
The economic push formed part of a broader package of understandings reached during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit. Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also moved to strengthen cooperation in areas including trade and transit, education, science and technology, environment, security and institutional collaboration.
Both governments have also highlighted regional connectivity as an important component of their economic relationship. Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed progress on transit trade arrangements, while the Kyrgyz leadership said Pakistan’s seaports could provide Kyrgyzstan access towards South Asian and wider international markets. Kyrgyzstan, in turn, could serve as an important route connecting Pakistan with Central Asian and Eurasian markets.
President Japarov said the economy should become one of the principal pillars of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations. The two sides identified pharmaceuticals, agriculture, energy, light industry, tourism and the digital economy among potential areas for investment and joint projects.
The agreement comes amid increased high-level engagement between Islamabad and Bishkek, with both sides seeking to convert their traditionally close diplomatic relationship into stronger trade, investment and regional connectivity links.
