Postcard from Bishkek

The traffic on the main streets in Bishkek is particular busy with roads closed and many police lining the street, one tweet said there were officers standing every 20 meters.

To the inhabitants of Bishkek all this disruption can mean only one thing – someone important is visiting the city.  In this case it’s all in aid of an official visit by the President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj of Mongolia.

As with all such visits, there is a packed programme of official meetings and visits.

President Elbegdorj has met with Almazbek Atambaeva, and other officials, and they have discussed a wide range of issues such as the development of bilateral links, (five agreements were signed), including establishing an air link between Bishkek and Ulan Bator, (the proposed route is Istanbul-Bishkek-Ulan Bator), cooperation in mining, industry, (particularly meat processing and export), and agriculture, (including the purchase of Cashmere Goats from Mongolia and the Mongolians are interested in Kyrgyz sheep).  A three day Kyrgyz-Mongolian business forum is being held.  Invitations have been issued for future official Presidential and Parliamentary visits to Mongolia.  The Mongolian delegation are also taking a visit to Lake Issyk Kul – Kyrgyzstan’s main tourist spot, but as it’s not exactly the tourist season, they will not be able to see all that the region has to offer.

President Elbegdorj attended a meeting at the Kyrgyz National University where he met with staff and students and in a special ceremony invested former President Otunbaeva with the Order of the Polar Star, which is one of the highest awards in Mongolia.  In her speech, Roza Otunabeva said:  “I hear at international forums repeatedly about successes of Mongolia in economic sector, social development and fight against corruption. It is especially good that the person guiding these changes is here now and is ready to share his experience of governance.”  The implication being that there is much that Kyrgyzstan can learn from the Mongolian experience.

(Oh … and, for the record, President Elbegdorj was also awarded the title of Emeritus Professor at the University.)

 

Back when IBC, (the International Business Council), first published its journal, IN, (Investment Now), it included a column “Us and Them” dedicated to exploring the similarities and differences between Kyrgyzstan and our neighbours – and sometimes more distant countries.  I was asked about contributing a column based on comparisons relating to tourism.   It was suggested that I take a look at our major competitors, Nepal or Tibet, both of which are mountainous trekking destinations.  I countered with the suggestion of comparing Kyrgyzstan with Mongolia.

Like Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia is a landlocked country bordered by Russia and China.  There are lots of other similarities between the two, they share a nomadic history and culture - yurts and gers, pastoral economy, mineral resources, … a fact not lost on Preisdent Atambaev.  Both countries have historical connections with Geghis Khan and the Mongol Empire of the thirteenth century and share a heritage with the communist regimes of the Soviet Union and China in the twentieth century.   Since 1991, both have established a new political order, a multi-party system and a transition to a market economy … and so on.

There are, however, differences.   Whereas Kyrgyzstan is a small country, Mongolia is much, much,  bigger.  The population of Kyrgyzstan is about five and a half million, whereas Mongolia’s is just three million.  If the Kyrgyz are predominantly Muslim, in Mongolia they are adherents of Tibetan Buddhism … and so on.

Both countries have a significant tourism industry.  Both have considerable natural beauty, historical connections and nomadic traditions.

On the other hand – Mongolia has the name … instantly recognizable … with its own attraction, mystic and appeal.  The Mongolian government and tourist industry have built on that.  Kyrgyzstan, however, has a name which is associated with “alphabet soup” and revolutions.

Whereas Mongolia has been able to build a positive image based on that name, their landscape, history and culture, Kyrgyzstan still has a long way to go and a lot to learn.

It seems to me that Roza Otunbaeva had a point!

 

Tags: Expat, Life_in_Kyrgyzstan