France and Kyrgyzstan

Political relations

A bilateral Treaty of Friendship, Understanding and Cooperation was signed in June 1994 following the independence of Kyrgyzstan, with which France established diplomatic relations in February 1992. Since 2001, our bilateral relations have intensified through the hosting of a French air detachment in Bishkek in support of our military operations in Afghanistan. A diplomatic representation was opened in Bishkek in summer 2004 and converted into a full-fledged embassy in December 2009.

The current Ambassador, Mr Michaël Roux, took office in September 2016.

Visits

The Kyrgyz President, Almazbek Atambayev, was received by President François Hollande in Paris in March 2015. Prior to this, the former Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva visited France in March 2011 and met with the Foreign Minister, Alain Juppé. The French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner visited Kyrgyzstan in July 2010 with his German counterpart to renew France’s support for efforts to ensure stabilization and a return to the rule of law. France has awarded a total of €1.2 million in the form of humanitarian and medical assistance, and of financing for a project to assist displaced persons in the Fergana Valley.

Consultations between the French and Kyrgyz Ministries of Foreign Affairs were held in Paris in April 2016.

The France-Kyrgyzstan Friendship Group in the National Assembly and the French Senate’s France-Central Asia Friendship Group have paid several visits to Kyrgyzstan since 2009. The France-Central Asia inter-parliamentary friendship group’s last mission to Kyrgyzstan took place in April 2011.

Economic relations

Although our trade has increased in recent years, Kyrgyzstan is still a marginal destination (with €12 million in 2008 and €34 million in 2014). French imports from Kyrgyzstan amounted to €14.5 million in 2014. They mainly consisted of metals. French exports (€19 million in 2014) consist almost exclusively of mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment. French companies are little represented in Kyrgyzstan due to limited market opportunities and the business climate, but they are interested in the country’s potential. Multilateral donors can provide sources of funding. The few public contracts won by French companies concern energy (supply of hydroelectric turbines).

Cultural, scientific and technical cooperation

The Alliance Française in Bishkek is the French operator responsible for cultural and linguistic outreach in Kyrgyzstan.

The French Institute for Central Asian Studies (IFEAC) is a regional research institute based in Bishkek. It conducts research and exchanges on regional social sciences and humanities.

^{Updated: 15 January 2017}