The Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic and Director of Tourism Department, Samat Shatmanov, affirmed that the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Kyrgyzstan is a great opportunity to launch a constructive touristic co-operation and build an effective partnership between the relevant institutions of both countries to develop relations in this vital and important sector.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Shatmanov said that Kyrgyzstan strongly wants to co-operate with Qatar in various fields, most notably tourism, especially since both countries have huge potential in this sector, which allows them to launch investment partnership and projects that benefit both sides. He asserted his belief in that the Amir's visit will give a strong impetus to the co-operation between Kyrgyzstan and Qatar, yielding very positive results in all vital fields.
He said that Qatar enjoys an advanced sustainable economy and a wealth of experience in tourism investment. As such, Shatmanov said that the Kyrgyz side is strongly interested in expanding co-operation with Qatar in the tourism sector, particularly in attracting investors to touristic projects, in co-operation with the Kyrgyz National Investment Agency.
He highlighted the many commonalities shared by both countries, most important of which is having the same religion. Consequently, the Kyrgyz leadership is eager to consolidate bilateral relations, which have been developing and moving in the right direction since independence.
He added that the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, which supervises the tourism sector in Kyrgyzstan, intends to organise touristic events and activities as a form of consolidating relations between the two countries. He said that the Kyrgyz tourism sector intends to participate in conferences, forums, and touristic events organised by Qatar, with the aim of promoting tourism in Kyrgyzstan and benefiting from Qatar's expertise in the field. He explained that Kyrgyzstan and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Doha in 2014 for co-operation in tourism.
Shatmanov said that Qatar was a leading country in the tourism sector, given how it was able to open up to the world, while at the same time preserve its customs and traditions, not to mention its huge and qualitative infrastructure and facilities in the services and hospitality sector, qualifying the State to become one of the most developed countries in this sector.
He highlighted his country's capabilities in the tourism sector, particularly its special location within the Central Asian region, allowing it to have so much to offer tourists.
He named some of Kyrgyzstan's touristic features, highlighting its mountainous areas, such as the highest peaks: Jengish Chokusu (7,439m), Lenin Peak (7,134m) and Khan Tengri (7,010m). Shatmanov also noted the many ski resorts, pastures, rivers, and lakes the country has, such as the Issyk-Kul Lake: one of the world's largest lakes, and Lake Sary — Chelek, located between the high mountains.
Samat Shatmanov
