ECO-CCI, was founded by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines, and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, in 1990, in order to promote commercial, industrial and economic cooperation among member states. Today, ECO-CCI has 10 members. Apart from the above mentioned members the other 7 members respectively are the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyz Republic , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Under the auspices of ECO, ECO-CCI aims at creating common policies and delivering suggestions; paying effort to increase the contacts among members; and sharing experience and information among member chambers’ countries.

ECO-CCI aims at becoming an institution pursuing the goals of formulating policies, guiding world business circles and leading the society in the region. ECO-CCI, dedicates its efforts to long-term benefits for the ECO region rather than short-term achievements and produces concrete projects in accordance with the mutual interest of member states.

To this end, a Work Program is initiated and the activities to be carried out are designed according to the needs and interests of our countries. Some of the activities such as the Business Forum and buyers/sellers meetings are being institutionalized and held on a regular basis.

Kyrgyzstan Country profile

Official Name: Kyrgyz Republic

Geography
Area: 77,181 sq. mi.

Cities: Bishkek (capital), Osh, Cholpon Ata, Karakol.

Terrain: 90% mountainous, with some desert regions. Elevation extremes--lowest point: Kulundy village in the Batken province 401 m; highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m.

People

Nationality: Kyrgyzstani.

Population (July 2008): 5,356,869.

Annual growth rate (2008): 1.38%.

Ethnic groups (2007): Kyrgyz 68.9%; Russian 9.1%; Uzbek 14.4%; Dungan (ethnic Chinese Muslims) 1%; Uighurs 1%; Tajik 0.9%, Kazakh 0.8%, Tatars 0.7%; Korean 0.4%, German 0.3%.
Main religions: Islam; Russian Orthodox.

Languages: Kyrgyz (state); Russian (official, 2001).

Education: Nine years compulsory. Literacy--98.7%.

Health (2006): Infant mortality rate--29.2 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy--67.7 years.
Population distribution (2006): Urban 64.7%; rural 35.3%.

Government
Type: Republic.

Independence: August 31, 1991 (from the Soviet Union).

Constitution: May 5, 1993; amended in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2006, and 2007.

Economy
GDP: 2008 (est.), $4.6 billion; 2007, $3.75 billion; 2006, $2.8 billion; 2003, $1.9 billion.

GDP growth rate in 2008: 7.6%.

Inflation rate at end of 2008: 24.4%.

GDP per capita (2008 est.): $870.

Unemployment rate (as of the end of 2008): 11.1%.

Natural resources: Abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of iron, bauxite, copper, tin, molybdenum, mercury, and antimony.

Agriculture: Products--tobacco, cotton, wheat, vegetables (potatoes, sugar beets, beans), fruits (apples, apricots, peaches, grapes), berries, sheep, goats, cattle, wool.

Industry: Types--small machinery (electric motors, transformers), light industry (cotton and wool processing, textiles, food processing), construction materials (cement, glass, slate), shoes, furniture, mining, energy.

Trade: Exports (2008)--$1.6 billion: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco, gold, mercury, uranium, hydropower, machinery, shoes. Partners--Switzerland 27.3%, Russia 19.2%, Uzbekistan 14.3%, Kazakhstan 11.3%, France 6.7%, Afghanistan 2.8%. Imports--$3.3 billion: oil and gas, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs. Partners--Russia 44.3%, China 14.6%, Kazakhstan 11.4%, Uzbekistan 4.4%, U.S. 3.0%.

Total external debt mid-2008 was $3.16 billion, of which $2.19 billion was public debt.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

The 1993 constitution defines the form of government as a democratic republic. The executive branch includes a president and prime minister. The judicial branch comprises a Supreme Court, a Constitutional Court, local courts, and a Procurator-General. The legislative branch is composed of a

source: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5755.htm

Kazakhstan Country Profile

Source: UNdata

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Kyrgyzstan embassies in ECO member countries

Iran

Iran Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic

Add: Building 12, 4th Naran Jastan Ail , Pasdaran, Tehran- Iran

Phone: (+98-21) 22830354

Fax: (+98-21) 22281720

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstani Embassy in Astana

Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic

Add: Microjaron Karaotkel, Sector A 2/1, 010000 Astana -Kazakhstan

Phone: (+7-3172) 221119, 221116, 371116, 371119

Fax: (+7-3172) 221113, 371113

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kazakhstan embassies in ECO member countries

(Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan)

ECO Trade and Development Bank

Islamic Development Bank